Lillianna Puppel’s goal is to become a professor and researcher in the field of behavioral neuroscience. She’s on the right path at Ohio Northern University.
Lillianna will graduate in May 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a concentration in behavioral neuroscience and a minor in sociology. After graduation, she plans to get her Ph.D.
The Olentangy Liberty High School graduate from Delaware, Ohio, is head lab assistant for Dr. Phil Zoladz’ rat research lab, which she joined as a freshman.
“It’s fascinating to look at how drugs interact with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and at the data we get. Neuroscience is my favorite part of what we do in the lab.”
Lillianna knew she wanted to go to a small university not too far from home. She appreciates that the “curriculum is very thorough, and you get many opportunities you might not get elsewhere.”
She also appreciates the relatively small classes compared to other schools.
“With fewer students, you get more opportunities. You have the chance to be a tutor, a teaching assistant and/or a lab assistant. You may apply for internships that are formed through our program, including working at the Child Development Center or shadowing a school psychologist in Bellefontaine, Ohio. Many professors even hire students to work for them over the summer in the research labs.”
Lillianna has had many memorable experiences during her time at Ƶ and, when asked, came up with one opportunity that particularly stands out.
“Working in the rat research lab landed me the opportunity to attend the Society for Neuroscience conference, which is an international conference that has roughly 30,000 attendees. I have gone twice so far and am planning to go again this fall, but this time as the head author of our poster!”
She added, “It is so nice to know that all my hard work over the past three years has truly paid off and has landed me the position of head research assistant in the lab.”