MLRisherLab

Louise Risher (Principle Investigator)

Dr. Risher began her undergraduate training at Nottingham Trent University, England where she majored in Physiology and Pharmacology. After accepting a full athletic scholarship for swimming she transferred to George Mason University and completed her B.Sc. in Applied Biology. She joined the laboratory of Dr. Alvin Terry at the University of Georgia (at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta) as a research technician and fell in love with neuroscience. She went on to complete her Ph.D. in Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics in the laboratory of Dr. Terry with a focus on small animal behavioral neuropharmacology and toxicology. Dr. Risher conducted her postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Dr. Scott Swartzwelder in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University Medical Center. As part of the Neurobiology of Adolescent Drinking In Adulthood (NADIA), she used a rodent model to investigate the long-term effects of binge drinking on learning and memory processes. In 2016 she was promoted to Assistant Professor and began a new line of investigation into the role of glia in modulating neuronal function following adolescent ethanol exposure. In March of 2018, Dr. Risher and her husband Dr. Chris Risher (http://chrisrisherlab.com) joined the faculty at Marshall University.

Hannah Sexton, B.S.

Hannah is the lab manager and the ‘glue’ of the Risher Lab. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a major of biological sciences. She began her career in research at Duke University over 16 years ago. She moved to Marshall with Dr. Risher in March 2018. When she began research it was just a job but over the years addiction research has become her passion. She enjoys learning new things and solving problems. Her favorite lab-related activity is conducting small animal surgery - of any kind. In her free time, she enjoys watching Liverpool FC and taking her dogs (babies) to the park.

Mika Jones

Alyssa Ilhenfeld

Aaliyah Walls

Prior Graduate Students

TRISTAN MUCK, B.S.

Tristan is currently a lab technician in the Risher lab, she began as an undergraduate volunteer and moved to full-time once she graduated with a bachelor's in biological sciences from Marshall University. This was her first experience in research. She enjoys organizing complex things and her favorite lab activity is image analysis and cellular reconstructions. In her free time, she likes to read and spend time with her family, especially her dog. Tristan is currently on maternity leave with her beautiful daughter. Welcome to the world little one!

OliviA Coulter B.S.

My name is Olivia Coulter and I’m a 3rd year PhD student. I am from Fort Smith, Arkansas and obtained my bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Professions. I chose to be in this lab because I have recently found a great interest in neuroscience research and love to expand my skills on the growing technological advances in the field. I enjoy the atmosphere of the lab and all its members. In my free time, I love to watch scary movies, go hiking, and listen to music or audiobooks.

ISABELL ROOP
Isabell is an undergraduate in the lab. I’m waiting for her to send me her blurb. In the meantime, I will share that she did her first ever poster presentation at the Marshall Research Day earlier this month and won an award for the best undergraduate poster (ok this was a few years ago and I am still waiting for her blurb). She did an amazing job!! She is now working on her capstone and her Marshall University Creative Discovery Award.

MIKA JONES

My name is Mika, and I am an undergraduate in the lab. I am a junior at Marshall University, double majoring in Biology and Biochemistry on the pre-med track. I am currently studying for my MCAT in the spring! As for campus involvement, I am a member of the Pre-AMSA Club, the Biology Club, and the Scuba Club. I am also a member of the AXE Chemistry Fraternity and Delta Zeta Sorority. I have been a supplemental instruction leader for three semesters—leading MTH 127, CHM 211, and CHM 205. I enjoy traveling, art, yoga, and attending BCM on Wednesdays. As for the lab, I am grateful to be a part of such an empowering team and have been working towards my capstone. My research is focused on the aims of the currently funded NSF award (WV-NFNT). For more info: https://www.marshall.edu/neurocamp/west-virginia-network-for-functional-neuroscience-and-transcriptomics-wv-nfnt/

Alyssa is an undergraduate student that joined us in the Fall, 2024. She is currently working with Olivia Coulter.

Aaliyah is an undergraduate student that came into the lab in the summer, 2024 to learn some basic techniques. She will be joining the lab in Spring, 2025.

Dr. Christopher Walker graduated in 2023. He is now a post doc at MUSC.

Dr. Christian Harris graduated in 2022. She went on to post doc at North Carolina Central University before accepting a tenure track faculty position at St. Augustine’s University. She is now employed by the Federal Government.