Team
Ana Clara (AC) Bobadilla
Principal Investigator
Ana Clara Bobadilla was born in La Plata, Argentina, and grew up between Madrid, Spain, and Paris, France. She earned her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Pierre and Marie Curie University (now Sorbonne University) in Paris, where she trained under Dr. Jean-Pol Tassin. Her doctoral research explored how repeated exposure to addictive substances produces long-lasting changes in brain systems involved in motivation and behavior.
Ana Clara then completed her postdoctoral training in Dr. Peter Kalivas's laboratory at the Medical University of South Carolina, where she investigated how changes in glutamate signaling contribute to drug-seeking behavior and relapse.
In 2020, she joined the University of Wyoming as an Assistant Professor. In 2023, she moved her laboratory to Colorado State University, where she is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences. Her research focuses on the brain mechanisms that drive drug-seeking behavior, relapse, and polysubstance use disorders. In particular, she studies specialized groups of neurons that encode rewarding experiences and investigates how addictive drugs alter the neural circuits that normally support natural rewards. Her lab is also exploring the therapeutic potential of psychedelic compounds and the neural mechanisms through which they may promote recovery from substance use disorders. Through this work, she aims to advance our understanding of motivated behavior and develop new approaches for treating addiction.
Outside the lab, Ana Clara enjoys portrait photography, reading, dancing, and exploring the Rocky Mountains and Medicine Bow National Forest with her family.
Tiffini Lovell
Tiffini is a Biomedical Sciences PhD student focusing on the therapeutic impact of psychedelic compounds on fentanyl-seeking behavior in mice. Her research specifically explores how psychedelics might interact with reproductive hormones to influence fentanyl reward pathways in the brain. Outside the lab, Tiffini is an avid music lover who enjoys cooking, reading, and paddleboarding at Horsetooth Reservoir.
Vanessa Correa
Vanessa is a Biomedical Sciences PhD student investigating how neuronal ensembles and neural circuits contribute to motivated behaviors. Her current projects focus on prefrontal cortex-nucleus accumbens (PFC-NAc) connectivity, overlapping neuronal ensembles, and synaptic connections—including dendritic spine analysis—to better understand maladaptive drug-seeking behaviors. Outside of research, she enjoy reading, writing, cooking, traveling, and checking out local coffee shops.
German Gutierrez Erives
German Gutierrez Erives obtained his Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience with a Cell and Molecular concentration along with a minor in Computer Science. He currently works in the Bobadilla Lab as a Research Associate helping his fellow graduate students with their research and developing software to help other labs. In his free time, he likes to play the accordion, music production, and playing pool every now and then.
Sydney Phillips
Sydney is a Research Associate focusing on how the estrous cycle influences behavior and reward pathways. She ensures the lab runs smoothly by assisting with a wide variety of tasks, from executing experimental protocols to supporting various ongoing research projects. Outside the lab, Sydney is an avid ultra runner and rock climber who loves hitting the trails, and attending electronic dance music (EDM) shows.
Jordan Russelavage
Jordan graduated from Colorado State University in 2026 with a bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences and a minor in Chemistry. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, she worked in Dr. Bobadilla's lab studying synaptic plasticity in cocaine-seeking ensembles. After graduating, she was hired into Dr. Bobadilla's lab as a research associate. She is now studying how psilocin affects fentanyl-seeking and relapse behaviors. When she is not working in the lab, she is working in the Emergency Department as an EMT or outside somewhere.
Adam Miller
Casey Rosenberg
Casey is a fourth-year undergraduate volunteer lab assistant majoring in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Chemistry. Casey supports the team by managing general laboratory tasks, preparing for experiments, and analyzing experimental data. When out of the lab, Casey loves hitting the slopes to go skiing.
Elijah Strauss
Ayla Candelario
Ayla is an undergraduate lab assistant who supports the team with a wide variety of tasks, ranging from daily laboratory maintenance to executing experimental protocols. They are highly inquisitive and passionate about learning the unique research methodologies utilized by the lab. A fun fact about Ayla: her favorite drink is honey lavender tea!
Ryan is an undergraduate research assistant pursuing bachelor's degrees in Neuroscience and Biochemistry. They are particularly fascinated by how psychedelic and psychotomimetic drugs modulate reward circuits and alter addictive behaviors. In addition to their research, Ryan works as a pharmacy technician and is involved with CREWS, a campus peer education and harm reduction group. Outside of their academic pursuits, they can be found rock climbing or enjoying live music.
Ryan Bierman
Chloe deGuzman
Chloe is an undergraduate research assistant majoring in Psychology with a concentration in Mind, Brain, and Behavior. She is currently cross-training in various research methodologies and supporting multiple ongoing projects. Alongside their studies, Chloe works as a PTCB-certified pharmacy technician (CPhT) and enjoys traveling to explore new places in their free time.
Alumni
Levi Flom — Graduate Student, Neuroscience Graduate Program. 08/23/2021 – 06/12/2026 (Both UWyo & CSU)
Yesenia Garcia Moreno — Undergraduate Student. 06/05/2025 – Spring 2026 (CSU)
Liya Daniel — Undergraduate Student. 01/12/2026 – 05/01/2026 (CSU)
Lucero Gomez Andazola — Undergraduate Student. 08/22/2024 – January 2026 (CSU)
Milo Maddocks — Undergraduate Student. 05/05/2025 – January 2026 (CSU)
Mariah Leonard — Rotation Graduate Student. 08/15/2024 – 10/25/2025 (CSU)
Maya Van Dyke — Undergraduate Student. 01/29/2024 – 05/18/2025 (CSU)
Troy Swierczek — Undergraduate Student. 01/29/2024 – 05/18/2025 (CSU)
Sam Hyken — Undergraduate Student. 08/22/2024 – 05/18/2025 (CSU)
Samantha Skurnick — Undergraduate Student. 08/22/2024 – 05/18/2025 (CSU)
Nyawarga Chak — Undergraduate Student. November 2024 – April 2025 (CSU)
Siena Giacoma — Undergraduate Student. 01/20/2024 – Spring 2024 Semester (CSU)
Carl Litif — Graduate Student, Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences Graduate Program. 03/01/2021 – 04/30/2024 (Both UWyo & CSU)
Skylar Hodgins — Undergraduate Student, Psychology. 10/04/2021 – Fall 2023 (Both UWyo & CSU)
Samuel Johnson-Noya — Research Assistant. 10/10/2022 – August 2023 (UWyo)
Max Seibold — Undergraduate Student. Fall 2022 – August 2023 (UWyo)
Jade Kosmicki — Undergraduate Student. 10/11/2022 – August 2023 (UWyo)
Kathryn Sandum — Graduate Student, Biomedical Science Graduate Program. 08/18/2021 – 07/31/2023 (UWyo)
Saul Isaiah Alvarado — Rotation Graduate Student. 08/18/2021 – 07/31/2023 (UWyo)
Patrick Arner — Undergraduate Student, Physiology and Microbiology. 07/01/2022 – January 2023 (UWyo)
Jenna Crouse — Undergraduate Student. Summer 2022 – January 2023 (UWyo)
Lucas Sa — Undergraduate Student, Physiology. 09/07/2021 – 12/07/2022 (UWyo)
Peter James — Undergraduate Student. 06/22/2022 – 08/17/2022 (UWyo)
Tawna Herrera — Laboratory Assistant. 01/04/2022 – 07/29/2022 (UWyo)
Lucio Vaccaro — Laboratory Manager. 09/17/2020 – 06/24/2022 (UWyo)
Martin Akandawen — Graduate Student in Rotation, Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences Program. 01/10/2022 – 03/04/2022 (UWyo)
Dipesh Pokharel — Junior at The College of Idaho, Biomedical Science Major - RAIN- Wyoming INBRE Summer Research (WISR) Internship. 05/24/2021 – 07/29/2021 (UWyo)
Nataly Beacham — Undergraduate at University of Wyoming, Junior, Molecular Biology. 02/02/2021 – 07/05/2021 (UWyo)
Clayton Potter — P3 Pharmacy student, School of Pharmacy. 06/01/2021 – 06/25/2021 (UWyo)
Cameron Campbell — P1 Pharmacy student, School of Pharmacy. 01/11/2021 – 06/01/2021 (UWyo)