Principal Investigator

Katherine M. Serafine, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience

Dr. Serafine earned her B.A. in psychology from Norwich University in Northfield, VT., and her M.A. in psychology as well as her Ph.D. in Behavior, Cognition, and Neuroscience from American University in Washington, DC. Her dissertation research focused on the neurochemical mediation of the aversive effects of cocaine, using classical conditioning procedures. Dr. Serafine completed a postdoctoral fellowship in behavioral pharmacology at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, TX. Her research interests include the impact of diet and drug history on abuse vulnerability. Recently, Dr. Serafine's research has also focused on sex differences in drug sensitivity, and the neurochemical and behavioral overlap between drug abuse and food-related conditions, such as obesity and binge eating disorder. Dr. Serafine was appointed as a tenure track Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Texas at El Paso in 2015, and was selected to be the 2018-2019 ACNP/AMP Biomedical Research Awareness Day Fellow. In 2019, she was also named one of NIH's "Future Research Leaders". In September 2021, Dr. Serafine was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor with tenure. Dr. Serafine was also recently selected as the 2022/2023 American Psychological Association  Executive Branch Science Fellow.

Graduate Students

Leslie Sullivan
First Year Doctoral Student

Leslie is a 2nd year PhD student at UTEP, but has been working in the lab since 2023 when she was an undergraduate. Leslie first joined the lab through the LSAMP Summer Research Academy, and completed an honors thesis with Dr. Serafine before applying to graduate school. Leslie has been working on her First Year Research project, which involves studying GLP-1 Receptor agonist drugs, which are currently being used for obesity and diabetes in clinical populations. She will present her First Year Research Project to the Psychology Department in Fall 2025, and begin working on her masters thesis during the 2025-2026 academic year.

High School Student

Sarah Galindro
​High School Student Research Assistant

Sarah joined the lab in January 2024, and is a student at Valle Verde Early College High School and El Paso Community College, majoring in neuroscience. Sarah participates in several extracurricular activities including Collegiate Double T Health Professions Honors Society, the Teen Survivor club, and is a UMC volunteer tutor through the virtual LearnToBe program. Sarah is also the president of her high school class of 2026, and vice president of the Science National Honor Society. Sarah has been assisting with ongoing research projects. After high school and college Sarah hopes to apply for medical school. 

Undergraduate Students

Michael Aguirre
​Undergraduate Research Assistant

Michael is a premed student working towards a B.S. in Neuroscience at UTEP. He joined the lab in summer 2025 and is currently completing training. Michael is a part of the Medical Professions Organization (MPO). He also has experience working to provide housing, funding and medical needs to a community of people with intellectual disabilities for two years as a case manager and served as an advocate for their autonomy and rights. Michael will assisting with ongoing projects in the lab. 

Carlos Palomino
​Undergraduate Research Assistant

Carlos is a junior at UTEP majoring in Neuroscience with a concentration in Psychology and is expected to graduate in December 2026. He joined the lab in summer 2025 and is currently completing lab training. Carlos will assist with ongoing projects in the lab. Carlos is a U-RISE Trainee, president of Christians at UTEP, and has co-authored research on craniofacial development. After graduation, Carlos plans to pursue an MD/PhD with a focus on neuroscience and addressing health disparities in underserved communities.

Adrian Perez
Undergraduate Research Assistant

Adrian is a senior who joined the lab in summer 2024. Adrian is a psychology major, minoring in biology. Adrian has been assisting with ongoing research projects. After graduation, Adrian hopes to attend graduate school to continue research in psychology.

Fernanda Villa-Ortiz
Undergraduate Research Assistant

Fernanda is a senior who joined the lab in summer 2024. Fernanda is majoring in psychology with a minor in drawing. After assisting with several ongoing research projects, Fernanda was selected for the SURPASS summer research program in 2025. Fernanda's project is focused on exploring the impact of dietary manipulation on sensitivity of rats to stimulant drugs. After graduation, Fernanda hopes to continue engaging in psychology research by attending graduate school.​

Postbaccalaureate Trainees

Angelica Romero
Postbaccalaureate Research Assistant ​

Angelica started in the lab in November 2024, and graduated with a B.S. in Neuroscience from UTEP in May 2025, magna cum laude. Angelica also works in Dr. Travis Moschak's lab in the Department of Biological Sciences as a laboratory technician (and previously volunteered in that lab since Fall 2023). Angelica is considering both graduate school and medical school as she continues to work in both laboratories. 

We're looking for students like you!

​For more details on applying for graduate studies at UTEP please click the below link! For more info on how to join the lab as an undergraduate, recent collage graduate or high school student, please click visit the "join the lab" tab on our website.