Marquette University, Milwaukee WI
Department of Biomedical Sciences
Our Research Lab
The Team
Dr. Robert Wheeler, PhD
Associate Professor
Dr. Wheeler received his graduate degree in neuroscience at Penn State University. There he studied the neural substrates of motivated behavior. He learned electrophysiological and electrochemical techniques in his postdoctoral training at the University of North Carolina.
At Marquette University, Dr. Wheeler applies these techniques to understand how the neural systems that regulate hedonic and emotional processing influence motivation.
Dr. Daniel Wheeler, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dan received his Ph.D. in Ralph Miller’s lab at SUNY Binghamton where he studied the acquisition and expression of anxiety. As a postdoctoral fellow in Peter Holland’s lab at Johns Hopkins University, he investigated the role of the amygdala in various learning and memory processes. In the Wheeler lab, Dan primarily examines the physiological intersection of stress and addiction using a variety of in vivo and in vitro measures of electrochemical neural activity.
Elaine Grafelman
Graduate Student
Elaine is a PhD candidate in the Neuroscience program who is conducting her research in the Wheeler lab. Elaine's research investigates the role of dopamine in motivating behaviors as a result of adverse experiences. She wants to know if changes in dopamine signaling is required for the aversion-induced behavioral changes that have been seen in the lab. Elaine also serves as a Graduate Student Representative for the Marquette Neuroscience Program. Outside of work, she spends a lot of time outdoors with her dog, Capsaicin – they love taking hikes and checking out all the local dog parks!
Beliz Kurtoglu
Graduate Student
Beliz is a 4th year graduate student at the Medical College of Wisconsin working with Dr. John Mantsch and collaborating with the Wheeler lab on chronic stress projects. Beliz’s research projects are focused on understanding the role of stress-induced upregulation in REDD1 on cognitive and affective processes and cellular function.
.jpg)
Bridgitte Cote
Graduate Student
In the Wheeler lab, Bridgitte is working to understand how D1 and D2 nucleus accumbens neurons encode aversive stimuli and influence behaviors like drug-seeking. Outside of the lab, she loves visiting local farmer's markets and raising her two cats, Fig and Olive!
Lisa Vlach
Research Technician
Lisa graduated from Marquette University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering. She majored in biomechanics and minored in biological sciences. Subsequent to graduation, she did a biomedical sciences graduate program also at Marquette. Lisa worked in a laboratory setting for over a year before returning to Marquette. She is looking forward to learning more about how trauma affects dopamine levels in the brain leading to drug-seeking and helping to make positive contributions to science and society. In her free time, she enjoys playing basketball, running, doing yoga, going to workout and dance classes, and cooking healthy meals.
Ella Geise
Undergraduate Student
Ella is a senior at Marquette studying Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Spanish for the Health Professions. Through the Honors in Biomedical Sciences program, she will be participating in research in Dr. Wheeler’s lab for the next several semesters. Ella is originally from northern California and loves to hike, swim, knit, and play board games. After she graduates from Marquette, she is planning on attending medical school and potentially moving closer to home. Ella is also interested in earning a master’s degree in public health.
Alumni
Chung-Lung Chan, former graduate student, currently an account manager at Absorption Systems, San Diego, CA
​
Mykle Robble, former graduate student, currently a senior associate at Tempus Labs, Chicago, IL
​
Mitchell Spring, former graduate student, currently a Post-Doctoral Fellow at Dartmouth University, Hanover, NH