Biobehavioral Health Alumni Profile: Helen Kamens, Bachelor of Science, May 2002

Education

Major: B.S. 2002 Biobehavioral Health,Pennsylvania State University

Minor: Neuroscience

Graduation: May 2002

Additional Eduaction/Training:

Ph.D. (September 2007), Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University

 

Onthe B.S. program in Biobehavioral Health, in her words:

I was very fortunate to have found the Biobehavioral Health program at Penn State.  The program allowed me to tailor the classes that I took to my interests and the experience I gained while working in a research lab left me well prepared for my graduate education.  The faculty are very caring and supportive, I always felt like they wanted me to succeed.    

 

Current areas of professional interest are:

I am currently a postdoctoral associate at Yale University where I utilize genetic models to study behaviors related to nicotine and alcohol abuse.  I perform behavioral and biochemical studies to help understand the neural basis of drug abuse.  The goal of this research is to identify what factors make some individuals susceptible to drug addiction.     

 

Employment:

(2007 – present) Postdoctoral associate in the Department of Psychiatry at Yale University.
I conduct behavioral and biochemical experiments to examine behaviors related to alcohol and nicotine abuse.

(2002 – 2007) Graduate student in the Department of Behavioral Neuroscience at Oregon Health & Science University.  I utilized quantitative genetic methods to study the biologic basis of drug and alcohol phenotypes.

 

Activities/Community Service:

Exhibitor, Brain Awareness Week Fair, 2004 - 2006.

Course director and lecturer, Saturday Academy of Portland neuroscience course, 2006

Coordinator, Brain Bowl, 2006.

Volunteer, Brain Bowl, 2004 - 2005.

Volunteer, KIDS! Discover OHSU Outreach Program, 2005.

 

Awards/Honors received:

The Research Society on Alcoholism Enoch Gordis Research Recognition Award (2006). 

The University Club of Portland Graduate Fellowship Award (2006). 

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism individual National Research Service Award (2005 – 2007).

Chosen as a Graduate Student Outstanding Young Investigator Awardee for the International Behavioural and Neural Genetics Society Annual Meeting (2005).    

Society for Neuroscience Oregon Chapter Synapse Award (2005). 

N.L. Tartar Research Fellowship (2004). 

Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society (2002)

Golden Key National Honor Society (2000)

Heath and Human Development Honor Society (1999)

Contact Information:

Helen.kamens@Yale.edu

updated: 5/08/08