Lab Members

Principal Investigator

Kimberly Nixon, PhD

Dr. Kimberly Nixon is an Associate Professor and James T. Doluisio Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology and member of the Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research. Dr. Nixon received a Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience from the University of Texas at Austin under the mentorship of the late Dr. Abram Amsel and Dr. Steven W. Leslie. She then went on to the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Fulton Crews. While at UNC, she was the first to discover the effect of alcohol on neurogenesis in adult organisms, an area where her lab continues to lead the field today. Dr. Nixon joined the faculty as an assistant professor at the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2005 where she rose through the ranks to Full Professor before returning to her alma mater in 2018. 

Postdoctoral Fellows

Natalie Nawarawong, PhD

I received my B.A. in Neuroscience from Vassar College in 2008. Upon completion of my degree, I worked in the Laboratory of Neurocognitive Development at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center with Drs. Beatriz Luna and Miya Asato, where I studied adolescent brain development in pediatric patients and typically developing populations. Following my tenure in Pittsburgh, I moved to the Medical College of Wisconsin to pursue my Ph.D. In 2019, I completed a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology in the laboratory of Dr. Christopher Olsen. My dissertation research utilized transgenic mouse models to investigate neuronal ensembles implicated in addiction vulnerability and relapse. I then joined the laboratory of Dr. Kimberly Nixon at the University of Texas at Austin as a Postdoctoral Fellow. My research focuses on understanding the role of reactive neurogenesis within the hippocampus in alcohol use disorders. When not in the lab, I enjoy reading, ice skating, and exploring new places.

Erika Carlson

I joined the lab in 2022 as a Ph.D. student in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharmacology and Toxicology). I am currently interested in alcohol-induced neuroimmune system reactivity and how microglia, brain-resident immune cells, are involved in alcohol-related damage and recovery post-exposure across age and sex. Prior to my studies at UT, I earned a B.S. in Integrative Biology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2018, where I studied cognitive plasticity and parenting behavior of fish with Dr. Alison Bell. I stayed on as Dr. Bell’s laboratory manager for 1 year, while also probing mechanisms of adolescent vulnerability to methamphetamine in rats in the laboratory of Dr. Joshua Gulley. I then left the cornfields behind for a 2-year post-bacc at the National Institutes on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in Baltimore, Maryland in the laboratory of Dr. George Koob, where I explored the respiratory effects of opioids in rats, as well as the role of the dynorphin-kappa opioid receptor system in fentanyl self-administration in mice. I am an avid biker, food enthusiast, and reader.  

Stephen Collins

I come from El Paso, Texas, where I earned a B.S. in Biological Sciences at the University of Texas at El Paso in 2020. During my undergraduate studies, I worked in Dr. Edward Castañeda’s laboratory of neural and behavioral plasticity exploring the underlying mechanisms that cause craving and drug-seeking behaviors during substance abuse. I am now a Ph.D. student in the Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharmacology and Toxicology) program and joined the laboratory of Dr. Kimberly Nixon in 2022. My research interest lies in the endocannabinoid system and its potential neuroprotective effects in the context of alcohol toxicity. When I am not in the lab, I enjoy listening to live music, going to the park to fly kites, and playing with my two pups.  

Alex Garcia

I am a Student Pharmacist who joined the lab during the summer of 2024. I am currently working on immediate early gene expression of aged rats following ethanol exposure and a spatial learning assay. I am originally from Garland, Texas where I earned my B.S. in Psychology from the University of Texas at Dallas. Now, I am in the Pharm.D. program at the University of Texas at Austin. Within the College of Pharmacy, I serve as a member of the Assessment Committee, Fundraising Coordinator for VPPA, and Infectious Disease Committee member for SSHP. In my free time, I enjoy skateboarding, painting, and learning new languages. 

Marissa Johnson

I joined the lab in spring of 2024 as a student pharmacist. I am currently interested in drug effects on neurogenic cognitive processes as well as neurogenisis. I graduated from Texas A&M University as an honors student with a BS in Biomedical Sciences and a minor in Biomedical Research and Development. I will graduate from The University of Texas College of Pharmacy in 2027 and receive a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree (I am also perusing research honors.) After, I aim to complete a pharmacy residency focused on drug based therapies in stroke research. In my free time I enjoy walking my dog, spending time with loved ones, and trying new restaurants.  

Doeun Kim

I’m a PharmD student who joined Nixon Lab in the summer of 2024 to study neurogenesis during alcohol abstinence. I am originally from Austin, Texas, and I earned my B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Texas at Austin. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, baking, and keeping my home clean. I’m deeply passionate about learning more about neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, and I’m excited to gain deeper insights into neuroregeneration and degeneration through my research. 

Olivia Davis

I joined the Nixon Laboratory in 2024 as a post-baccalaureate research assistant with a desire to learn more about alcohol use disorders and their impact on neurogenesis. I recently graduated from UT Austin with a degree in Exercise Science and plan to pursue a career in medicine. Alongside my lab work, I’m a patient care technician at St. David’s Medical Center, and in my free time, I enjoy exploring Austin, playing tennis, and reading!  

Sneha Joseph

I joined the lab in 2024 as an undergraduate with an interest in alcohol-induced cell death and related damage. As a neuroscience major I am pursuing premed with a minor in malayalam and a certificate in elements of computing. I hope to eventually work in surgery, and to continue pursuing research in neuroscience and healthcare-related AI issues. Outside of neuroscience, I love exploring Austin through its hiking trails, and am an avid food lover! 

Michael Schmidt

I joined the lab in Fall 2023, where I began assessing the effects of alcohol misuse on neuroimmunology. Originally from Trophy Club, Texas, I began my undergraduate career at the University of Texas at Austin in Fall 2021. I am preparing for a career in the medical field as a neuroscience student with a minor in healthcare business reform and certificates in medical Spanish, forensic science, and pre-health professions. Outside of the classroom, I serve as one of Alpha Phi Omega’s flag coordinators, organizing the usage of the world’s largest Texas state flag (100 ft x 150 ft) at campus athletic and celebratory events. 

Chinchusha Anasooya Shaji

Lab Manager (2019 – 2023)
Next: Lead Research Project Manager at the Sealy Institute, Galveston, TX

Jessica Wooden, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow (2019 – 2024)
Next: Scientific Editor at UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX

Jenni Melbourne, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow (2019 – 2023)
Next: Medical Science Liaison at Braeburn, San Diego, CA

Steven Guerin, PhD

Graduate Student (2018 – 2024)
Next: Public Health Data Analyst at Texas HHS, Austin, TX

Ryan Thompson, PhD

Graduate Student (2018 – 2024)
Next: Data Scientist at LA County Dept. of Public Health, CA

Huy Dang

Post-baccalaureate Researcher (2019 – 2020)
Next: MD Student at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

Kate Adams

Pharmacy Student Researcher (2022 – 2024)
Next:

Ben Rodgers

Undergraduate Researcher (2023 – 2024)
Next: Post-baccalaureate fellow at UW, Seattle, WA

Joshua Rodriguez

Undergraduate Researcher (2022 – 2024)
Next: MD Student at NYU Grossman

Lauren Peacoe

Undergraduate Researcher (2022 – 2023)
Next: PhD Student at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

Catherine Van Doorn, PharmD, PhD

Graduate Student (2018 – 2024)
Next: Postdoctoral Fellow at UK, Lexington, KY

Chelsea Geil Nickell, PhD

Graduate Student (2010 – 2016)
Current: Master Laboratory Scientist at UK Health Care, Lexington, KY

Alex Marshall, PhD

Graduate Student (2008 – 2013)
Current: Assistant Professor of Biological and Biomedical Sciences at NCCU, Durham, NC

Daniel Liput, PhD

Graduate Student (2008 – 2013)
Current: Wellstat Ophthalmics, Rockville, MD

Kevin Chen, PharmD, MS

Pharmacy Student
Current: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Oncology, UNC Health, Chapel Hill, NC

Justin McClain, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow
Current: Associate professor of Biology at Gwynedd-Mercy University, Lower Gwynedd Township, PA

Dayna Hayes, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow
Current: Associate Professor of Psychology, Radford University, Radford, VA

Matthew Kelso, PharmD, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow
Current: Agilent Technologies