Team

Ana Clara (AC) Bobadilla

Principal Investigator

Ana Clara was born in La Plata, Argentina. She was raised between Madrid, Spain, and Paris, France. Ana Clara obtained her Ph.D. in neurosciences from the Pierre & Marie Curie University (now Sorbonne University) in Paris. Her thesis work, performed under the supervision of Dr. Jean-Pol Tassin, focused on understanding the long-lasting neurobiological changes of noradrenergic and serotonergic systems induced by repeated exposure to drugs of abuse using the behavioral sensitization model in mice. She then completed her post-doctoral training in the Kalivas lab at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC, Charleston, SC, USA), where she studied glutamatergic alterations driving drug seeking. In 2020, Ana Clara joined the University of Wyoming (Laramie, WY) as an Assistant Professor. She currently investigates the neurobiological mechanisms of relapse to drugs. Specifically, she characterizes the specific ensembles of neurons linked to reward-seeking behavior. By establishing whether addictive drugs hijack the networks coding for biological rewards, her research aims to advance fundamental understanding of goal-directed behaviors and the disorders altering them. Outside of the lab, Ana Clara enjoys shooting portraits, reading, dancing, and hiking the Rocky Mountains and Medicine Bow national forest with her partner Ed, their baby Emma, and their dogs Puma and Koko.
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Lucio Vaccaro

Laboratory Manager

Lucio was born in Umhalanga, South Africa. He received his bachelor’s degree in Biological Science from Clemson University in South Carolina. Lucio started as a Research Specialist for Dr. Bobadilla in 2019 at the Medical University of South Carolina. In 2020, he transitioned to a Laboratory Manager position for Dr. Bobadilla at the University of Wyoming. Lucio enjoys playing soccer, racing dirt bikes, and snowboarding in his free time.
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Tawna Herrera

Laboratory Assistant

Tawna is from American Fork, Utah. She moved to Wyoming in 2008. Her research interests are very broad. She is fascinated about everything, but of recent, she focuses on synaptic plasticity within the reward system of the brain in association with illicit drug use and relapse. Outside of the lab, Tawna enjoys painting, reading, dancing, and traveling. Her favorite part of living in Wyoming is that Laramie is a tight-knit community. A very cozy small-town feel with a hype. It is a proud college town and takes the Cowboys seriously. Everyone is really nice and enjoys the outdoors, lots of hiking, bike riding, and you can finish with a nice hot cup of tea.
Email | Facebook | Instagram: @tblicous | Snapchat: Toxictawnanana

Carl Litif

Graduate Student, Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences Graduate Program

Carl completed his bachelor’s and master’s degree in biology at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. During his master’s, Carl completed his thesis researching the genetics of pluripotent cells that allow glioblastoma remission to occur. Soon after, Carl transitioned into the molecular and cellular life sciences doctoral program at the University of Wyoming where he joined the lab of Dr. Bobadilla to conduct research regarding the underlying genetics of substance use disorder using murine and drosophila model organisms. When not in the lab, Carl enjoys meandering through various parts of Wyoming wilderness with his three furry friends where he finds serenity in nature that allows him to lead a balanced life while completing high-throughput research.
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Levi Flom

Graduate Student, Neuroscience Graduate Program

Levi is from Rochester, Minnesota, and received his Bachelor’s in Psychology from Winona State University. After graduating Levi spent a year working at Mayo Clinic in their Hepatitis HIV Serology Lab. His current work focuses on the change of synaptic plasticity for drug seeking in actively tagged drug seeking ensembles. The change is hypothesized to be caused by changes in AMPA/NMDA ratios. When he is not in lab, Levi enjoys spending time at half acre fitness center or going out to the movies, but nothing beats getting out on the trails surrounding Laramie.
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Kathryn Sandum

Graduate Student, Biomedical Science Graduate Program

Kathryn grew up in Michigan and graduated from the University of Kentucky with B.S. degrees in chemistry and biology. After graduating, she worked as a technician doing covid-19 and STD testing. She joined the Bobadilla lab in the summer of 2021 as a biomedical sciences Ph.D. student. Her current research interests are on neural pathways and how they can impact behavior and addiction. When not working in the lab, Kathryn enjoys baking, reading, and swimming in Wyoming’s beautiful lakes.
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Martin Akandawen

Graduate Student in Rotation, Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences Program

Martin is from a small rural town called Sandema in Ghana. He has a BSc. Biochemistry degree from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, and MPhil Pharmacology degree from the University of Ghana. He is enrolled in the Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences Ph.D. program at the University of Wyoming. Martin aspires to work in academia, studying the molecular underpinnings of various disorders and infectious diseases. Outside of the lab, Martin enjoys animal keeping and reading.
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Skylar Hodgins

Undergraduate Student in Psychology

Skylar is from Casper, Wyoming. She’s pursuing a degree in Psychology and plans on obtaining her Ph.D. in Neuroscience to research the neurobiology of substance use disorder. Outside of the lab, Skylar enjoys playing video games, hiking, and cooking. The thing she loves most about Wyoming is the accessibility to outdoor adventure.
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Lucas Sa

Undergraduate Student in Physiology

Lucas is from Palmas, Brazil. He is a junior at the University of Wyoming, majoring in physiology. He plans to apply to Medical School in his senior year. He loves learning about the brain, and he plans on specializing in neurosurgery. His hobbies are soccer, lifting, and rock climbing.
Email | Instagram: @lucas_pimenta2

Patrick Arner

Undergraduate Student Double Majoring in Physiology and Microbiology

Patrick is a senior double majoring in Physiology and Microbiology originally from Casper, Wyoming. He has an associate degree in Medical Laboratory Science from Casper College that he received in 2019 before transferring to the University of Wyoming at the beginning of 2020. Patrick plans on continuing his education after he earns his bachelor’s degree and hopes to earn a Ph.D. or M.D. in the future. Outside of the lab and school, Patrick likes to go hiking, fishing, mountain biking (in the summer) and snowboarding in the winter. He is a very outdoorsy person and likes to enjoy nature when possible. What he likes about Wyoming is that it isn’t crowded and that he can go enjoy nature whenever he wants without a lot of people there. It is a very peaceful place to live.
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Caden J. Wiederspahn

Undergraduate Student Majoring in Psychology, Minoring in Philosophy

Caden is from Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he has lived for his whole life. While studying on campus, he was employed by the University Wellness Center and is a part of the Wellness Ambassadors where he spreads helpful and positive practices for the overall wellness of the student population, including mental, physical, and sexual health to name a few. Beyond the university, Caden enjoys hiking, camping, reading, and making/listening to music. Living in Wyoming has been wonderful as he is not too far from a good hiking trail, and he thoroughly enjoys it. After graduating with his degree, he intends on pursuing graduate school to focus on counseling/clinical psychology.
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Alumni

Cameron Campbell — P1 Pharmacy student, School of Pharmacy
01/11/21 - 06/01/21

Nataly Beacham — Undergraduate at University of Wyoming, Junior, Molecular Biology
02/02/21 - 07/05/21

Clayton Potter — P3 Pharmacy student, School of Pharmacy
06/01/21 - 06/25/21

Dipesh Pokharel — Junior at The College of Idaho, Biomedical Science Major - RAIN- Wyoming INBRE Summer Research (WISR) Internship
05/24/21 - 07/29/21