Amanda Acuna

Amanda Acuña is a PhD candidate in the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience under the mentorship of Dr. M. Foster Olive. Her research in the Addiction Neuroscience laboratory focuses on the impact of neuroinflammation following psychostimulant use on adaptive decision making. An important goal of this work is to investigate novel targets of pharmacotherapies to aid in restoring behavioral control to those with methamphetamine use disorders. 

In addition to her research, Amanda is an enthusiastic mentor to undergraduate students in the laboratory and classroom, and has recently completed a Certificate in Scientific Teaching in Higher Education. She is currently the instructor of record for a special topics course at ASU - NEU 494, Psychiatric Medications – helping students to understand the neuroscience that underlies psychiatric disorders and their pharmacologic treatments. 

Amanda earned concurrent bachelor’s degrees in psychology and neuroscience from Arizona State University, having completed a Barrett honor’s thesis in the Behavioral Neuroscience in Stress laboratory of Cheryl Conrad. A non-traditional transfer student, Amanda completed her associate’s degree in psychology prior to transferring to ASU while working full time as the Aquatic Director for a local swim school and a Training Center Director for a nationally recognized CPR/first aid/lifeguard certification agency. She hopes to inspire other re-entry students with nonlinear career paths to never stop learning and pushing themselves to achieve their goals.