Why FSU?

FSU has the resources for me to accomplish my goals. It is a place that values diversity and constantly seeks to improve the learning environment. The Program in Neuroscience in the Department of Psychology has well-known ingestive behavior, chemosensory, and clinical faculty.

Motivation to pursue a graduate degree

As an undergraduate, I had the opportunity to participate in research under the guidance of Dr. Robert Glueckauf at FSU. The study's impact on the patients was incredible, inspiring me to find a topic that I was passionate about and that could help society. Dr. Winston Roberts's teaching style also inspired me to pursue a career in teaching and research.

Importance and/or impact of research and work

Metabolic needs and hedonic motivation drive eating, especially food high in sugars and fat. The motivation for overconsuming food is a modern health threat. Obesity and eating disorders characterized by sweet and high-calorie food consumption are current health pandemics. Binge eating disorder (BED) is distinguished as an abnormal motivation to overconsume highly palatable food and is also a feature of bulimia nervosa (BN). BED is associated with obesity, increasing the risk of developing diabetes and other metabolic dysfunctions. Additionally, individuals with BN or BED have a higher risk of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Clinical and epidemiological studies on BN, anorexia nervosa, and other eating disorders have reported that the majority of female patients have an anxiety disorder, which often manifests before the onset of the eating disorder. Therefore, the study of bulimic syndromes is necessary to develop the appropriate treatment, especially for the 30 percent of patients who remain ill for more than twenty years. Patients with diabetes and/or obesity taking Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 (GLP1) analogues have reported a decrease in binge eating episodes. Therefore, the results of my studies could contribute to possible treatment for BED patients.

Career aspirations

I aspire to be a tenured professor at an R1 university investigating ingested behavior with a focus on GLP1 in a translational setting.

Advice for anyone considering graduate school

Graduate school will be challenging in many ways besides the academic aspect. Knowing why you want to pursue a higher degree will help you in those difficult times. Therefore, make sure you have a strong reason for attending graduate school.

Accomplishments during graduate career

I am proud to have received the NIH-Integrated Clinical Neuroscience Training for Translational Research Fellowship and the McKnight Doctoral Fellowship. I have also published my first co-authored paper: Caitlyn M. Edwards, Inge Estefania Guerrero, Tyla Dolezel, Huiyuan Zheng, Linda Rinaman (2022). Blockade of ghrelin receptor signaling enhances conditioned passive avoidance and context-associated neural circuit activation in fasted male rats. Neuroendocrinology: https://doi.org/10.1159/000528828