PhD
Research Assistant Professor
Location:
Carolina Crossing, Suite 1
Education and Training:
- BS, Psychology, Colorado State University
- PhD, Neurobiology, University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, T32 Program for Reproductive Mood Disorders at UNC-CH
Summary Statement:
Dr. Elizabeth Andersen’s research focuses on defining the neurophysiological mechanisms that make the pubertal transition a unique window of vulnerability for affective illness in adolescent girls. Dr. Andersen received her PhD in Neurobiology from the University of North Carolina, where her training emphasized translational neuroscience and electrophysiological correlates of stress and emotion regulation in psychopathology. Following graduate school, Dr. Andersen completed postdoctoral training in reproductive mood disorders at the Center for Women’s Mood Disorders at UNC-Chapel Hill. With her foundation in neurobiology, stress physiology and emerging expertise in reproductive endocrinology, she employs a novel multimodal approach combining precise measurement of hormone fluctuations and neurophysiological responses to laboratory stress and cognitive challenges. This dimensional research provides insight on the neurophysiological correlates linking sex hormone flux with depression risk in girls during the pubertal transition. Dr. Andersen received a K01 Research Scientist Career Development Award from the National Institute of Mental Health to investigate the pathophysiological role of sex hormones in regulating frontal cognitive control, cortisol stress reactivity and interpersonal factors associated with depression in peripubertal girls. In addition to her research, Dr. Andersen is passionate about providing mentorship, support and research opportunities for adolescent girls to gain confidence in pursuing careers in science.
