Faculty Expertise
Throughout your time at Washington College, you will work with faculty in classes, lab and field work, internships, and more. Faculty serve as teachers and mentors, and as advisors for your Senior Capstone Experience (SCE). Explore the research interests of our faculty below.
Neuroscience Faculty
Mala Misra
Associate Professor of Biology, Director of Neuroscience Program
Mala Misra
Associate Professor of Biology, Director of Neuroscience Program
Areas of Expertise
Neuron growth and development
Research
I’m interested in how neurons, a critical cell type in the nervous system, grow into their unique shapes. Many neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders are characterized in part by changes in neuron shape, and these changes are thought to contribute directly to disordered or atypical neurological function. Understanding how neurons make decisions about their shapes during development can help us create better models of these disorders and, hopefully, better treatments.
Dan Kochli
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Dan Kochli
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Areas of Expertise
Learing & Memory; Behavioral Neuroscience; Motivated Behavior; Drugs/Addiction; Fear
Research
I am primarily interested in how simple learning processes can underpin complex disordered behaviors, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and addiction. I study these behaviors in rats and use modern neuroscience techniques to manipulate circuits and record neurobiological changes supporting these forms of maladaptive learning.
Jeremy Bard
Clarence C. White Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Jeremy Bard
Clarence C. White Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Areas of Expertise
Organic synthesis; Spectroscopy
Research
I focus on the synthesis and characterization of a variety of novel organic small molecules. Through a combination of organic synthesis, analytical measurement, and physical organic concepts, I work to develop structure-property relationships for families of related molecules. Primarily, I am focusing on developing new and interesting types of Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) dyes that seek to achieve high separations between the colors of light emitted and the colors of light.
Cindy Gibson
Associate Professor of Psychology
Cindy Gibson
Associate Professor of Psychology
Areas of Expertise
Models of traumatic brain injury; neurodegenerative disease risks after brain injury
Research
My research uses rats and mice to study the long-term outcomes of traumatic brain injuries, and the risk of neurodegenerative diseases—particularly Parkinson's and Alzheimer's—after suffering from one.
Aaron Krochmal
Associate Professor of Biology
Aaron Krochmal
Associate Professor of Biology
Areas of Expertise
Sensory Ecology; Animal Migration; Evolution of Complex Cognition
Research
I am a broadly-trained, integrative organismal biologist interested in the behavior, physiology, and ecology of reptiles. Specifically, I combine these disciplines to investigate how reptiles perceive, interact with, and navigate their environments.
Jennie Rinehimer
Chair and Associate Professor of Biology
Jennie Rinehimer
Chair and Associate Professor of Biology
Areas of Expertise
Avian Behavioral Ecology; Predation Trade-Offs
Research
My research focuses on avian behavioral ecology. I am particularly interested in how predators influence the behavior of their prey and resultant trade-offs associated with avoiding or reducing predation risk. I have addressed these predation trade-offs in a variety of contexts and species, including how risk influences thermoregulation (ruby-throated hummingbirds, New World sparrows, mourning doves), foraging (hummingbirds and sparrows), parental care (field sparrows), and lekking behavior (white-collared manakins). At Washington College, my collaborative research with students primarily examines how age and experience of field sparrows influences their reproductive success at the College’s River and Field Campus.
Audrey Weil
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Audrey Weil
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Areas of Expertise
EEG; Cognitive Control; Cognitive Neuroscience; Substance Use; Judgment and Decision Making; Cognitive Psychology
Research
With my expertise on cognitive neuroscience and substance use, I often work with students on a variety of exciting research initiatives. Recent student-driven research includes projects on how music effects different patterns of brain activity, how traumatic brain injuries impacts attentional control and related brain activity, and the importance of harm reduction education for people who aren't substance users.