Jessica Verpeut, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience
Dept. of Psychology, Arizona State University
B.S. Pennsylvania State University
Ph.D. Rutgers University
Postdoctoral Researcher, Princeton Neuroscience Institute
jverpeut@asu.edu
Google Scholar
Graduate Students
Olivia Law
Ph.D. student 2022-present
Olivia received her Honors BA in Psychology from Idaho State University in 2022. During her time at Idaho State, she examined health and decision-making behaviors (e.g. delay discounting) in both human and rat models. Additionally, she gained experience in a personality psychology lab which focused on making personality judgments of others. For her graduate studies, she is interested in the development of mental and genetic disorders and how they affect neural circuits and structures within the brain. In her free time, she enjoys writing and playing with her cat.
Alexandria Melick
Ph.D. student 2023-present
Alexandria received her Honors BS in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior from Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State in 2021. During her time at ASU, she sought to explore the biological basis of behavior and how physiological dysfunction can directly impact mental health. In her senior honors thesis, she examined the connection between malnutrition and increased mental illness prevalence in regions called food deserts, and ultimately highlighted the significance of the gut-brain axis in the relationship between the body and the brain. For her graduate studies, she is interested in the development of neurodegenerative disorders and how external variables, like food and stress, can affect the progression and severity of these disorders.
Mantra Rostami
Master’s student 2024-present
Mantra received her BS in Neuroscience from Arizona State University in 2024. During her undergraduate studies, she worked as a Registered Behavioral Technician, providing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy to individuals with developmental disabilities. Her academic experiences fostered a strong interest in developmental neuroscience, particularly in understanding how genetic and environmental factors shape brain structures such as the cerebellum. For her future research, she is interested in using Down syndrome mouse models to examine the effects of maternal choline supplementation on cerebellar development. She hopes to integrate insights from both behavioral and neurobiological perspectives to better inform interventions for developmental disorders.
Matilde Sanchez Heras
Master’s student 2026-present
Matilde is beginning her master’s program in neuroscience this Fall of 2026. She received her first bachelor’s in psychology in 2022 and her second bachelor’s in neuroscience in 2026. Having worked as a research and lab assistant, she is excited to apply her skills and knowledge in Dr. Verpeut’s SOCIAL Neurobiology lab. She is currently focused on studying the neurodevelopmental effects in mice exposed to toxic emissions released by asphalt during their critical developmental stages. She hopes to continue the work throughout her graduate experience.
Verpeut lab Fall 2026
(Top: Tara Nukala, Keean Roulinavage, Talin Krishnan, Shanak Behera, Aaron Berkley, Tydan Ortega. Bottom: Mantra Rostami, Qamar Rudha, Alexandria Melick, Jessica Verpeut, Olivia Law, Aliya Hashim, Briana Le, Matilde Sanchez Heras. Camera shy: Tristan Lyle, Kevin Xi, Adhiti Yerramilli, Akbota Bakyt)
Verpeut lab Spring 2025
(Top: Talin Krishnan, Vincent Truong, David Lukacik, Tristan Lyle, Henrique Vieira, Nazareth Salgado, Alexandria Melick, Olivia Law, Shankar Chawla. Bottom: Jessica Verpeut, Nicole Salgado, Lori Abbas, Tiara Furukawa, Kendall Christiansen, Carlos Quintero, Aliya Hashim, Kristin Masho Elbeh, Mariela Bejan, Hannah Yang)
(From left: Jaime Farrington, Alexandria Melick, David Lukacik, Carlos Quintero, Tristan Lyle (back), Makaela Ross, Megan Nelson, Henrique Vieira (back), Lori Abbas, Vincent Truong (back), Lavanyaa Gupta, Olivia Law, Kendall Christiansen, Nazareth Salgado, Jessica Verpeut)
(From left: Nazareth Salgado, Henrique Vieira (back), Vincent Truong, Megan Nelson, Dan Chambers, Jaime Farrington, Marina Ittner, Sam Bowser, Olivia Law, Katie Koch, Tristan Lyle, Summer Ahmed, Lori Abbas, Jessica Verpeut)
(From left: Jessica Verpeut, Vincent Truong, Megan Nelson, Andrea Trinh (front), Tristan Lyle (back), Marina Ittner, Neelsha Parekh (front), Akshita Vora, Lori Abbas) Not shown: Summer Ahmed and Katherine Koch
(From left: Megan Nelson, Marina Ittner, Jorge Espinoza, Neelsha Parekh,Tristan Lyle,
Summer Ahmed, Katherine Koch, Jessica Verpeut) Not shown: Sarah Shipley and Andrea Trinh
Join our team!
The lab welcomes motivated students to work in various aspects.
Please see: Undergraduate Research Application.
For graduate opportunities, please contact.
To see more fun and past accomplishments of our team:
@verpeutlab on Instagram
We are grateful and supportive of all our past lab members.
Verpeut Lab 
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