ABC Personnel

Carla Yuede, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Psychiatry Department, with joint appointments in Neurology and Neuroscience at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO. She graduated from Missouri State University in 2000 with a BS in Psychology and Biomedical Science, and received her Ph.D in Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Missouri – St. Louis. As Director of the Animal Behavior Core, she is primarily involved in research focused on behavioral phenotyping of adult animals, models of neurodegenerative disorders, and neuropsychiatric disorders, as well as biological/physiological changes occurring in the brain leading to impairments or improvements in memory function.

Susan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry. Her research focuses on the impact of genetic and environmental liabilities for intellectual and developmental disorders (IDD) on neural circuit function. In her roles as Assistant Director of the ABC and Director of the Animal Behavior Subunit of the IDDRC@WUSTL, she heads the team that provides rodent model behavioral characterization and analysis to IDD Investigators.

Dr. Maloney’s Publications

Dr. Maloney’s ORCID

Joshua Dearborn is a behavioral neuroscientist with training in molecular biology. His research interests revolve around the neurobiology and etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders. He has a strong background in the application of rodent models in behavioral assays to investigate the neurobiological mechanisms related to behavioral disruptions observed in psychiatric disorders. He is interested in determining the underlying mechanisms leading to both central and peripheral defects associated with lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) and using that information to develop effective therapies for this class of disease. He is inspired by the lack of clear understanding of the molecular- and circuit-level neuropathology mediating the symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders such as infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (INCL).

Cory Cearlock is a research technician from Paris, Illinois. He received his Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His research interests are primarily focused on neuropsychopharmacology, in particular drugs of abuse such as methamphetamine and cocaine. Before coming to WUSM, he was involved in the Neuropsychopharmacology Lab at UIUC. Outside of the lab, he enjoys spending time with his dog, watching movies, reading, and managing a variety of house plants.

Katie McCullough is a research assistant from O’Fallon, MO. She graduated from Drake University in Biochemistry. Her undergrad research focused on genetic elements of swine flu. When she started in the lab, she discovered her love of neuroscience and animal behavior. Outside the lab, she has 2 dogs (Shiloh and Astro) and a tortoise (Francis). She loves reading and subscribe to all thing’s true crime. Her fears: Heights and spiders.

Kate Reardon is a research technician and graduated from Emory University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. In 2019, she joined Dr. John Cirrito’s lab in the WUSM Department of Neurology. Using the microdialysis technique, her research focused on examining the cellular pathways that regulate amyloid-β and tau metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease. In 2020, she also joined the Animal Behavior Subunit as a research technician. When she’s not sciencing, Kate enjoys spending time outside, listening to music, and pretending she can play guitar as well as Slash.

Carlos Sardiña is a research technician who is currently earning degrees in Philosophy and Biological Sciences with a minor in Psychology at the University of Missouri-Columbia – better known as Mizzou. At Mizzou, Carlos is a McNair scholar and a research assistant in Dr. Matthew Will’s behavioral neuroscience lab, which primarily studies drug addiction and obesity. His research investigates the role of neuropeptide melanin-concentrating hormone on appetitive behaviors. Outside of the lab, Carlos enjoys evening walks with his wife, family fish fries, and reading (primarily non-fiction). Additionally, he and his wife run a coffee truck in Flint Hill, MO.

Amanda Titus is a research technician with a BS in psychology and biochemistry from SEMO and a MA in psychology from UMSL. She is currently pursuing a PhD in the biomedical sciences core program at SLU Medical School. Her research interest is in neurodegenerative diseases. She enjoys crocheting, playing the violin, and biking.

Sara B. Conyers is the lab supervisor and has worked in the ABC Lab since 2006. She received a BA in Psychology and minored in Biology and a MA in Behavioral Neuroscience all at the University of Missouri – Saint Louis. Outside of work, Sara is a volunteer coach for her daughter’s CYC volleyball team for the past six seasons.
She is also part of the dog walking volunteer team at the Best Buddy Pet Center in Maryland Heights. Sara is an enthusiastic runner for charity. In 2022, her Falmouth Road Race Team, Boston House, raised over $150,000 for Children with Cancer.  Sara loves playing tennis and sand volleyball with her team of motherly misfits; (ironically named) “Setsy And I Know IT!”.

Evan Daniels-Day is a research technician from Los Angeles, California. He received his Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of California, Riverside while minoring in Gender and Sexuality Studies. During his time at UCR, he was a Research Assistant in the Social Neuroscience Lab, focusing on social cognition and self-perception, as well as the Personality and Identity lab, focusing on the life narratives of varying groups of individuals. His research interests lie at the complex intersection of gender, sexuality, biology, and development. Outside of work, Evan enjoys spending time with his husband, Lukas, and their two dogs Leia and Lucy. He also enjoys crafts of all varieties, from quilting to knitting.

Raylynn Swift is a research technician with expertise in mouse behavioral research. She graduated from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 2020 with a Master’s degree in psychology with an emphasis in behavioral neuroscience. At home, she has two rat roommates and is working on expanding her houseplant collection.