Principal Investigator
Mariya V. Cherkasova, PhD
Assistant Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience in Psychology
Interested in psychological and neural mechanisms of reward-related behavior and addiction.
PhD from McGill University (2012); Postdoctoral fellowship at the University of British Columbia (2014-2020)
Office: 2128 Life Science Building
Email: mariya.cherkasova@mail.wvu.edu
Graduate Students
Polina Krom
Polina is a Graduate student in the WVU Psychology PhD program in Behavioral Neuroscience. Polina is interested in researching addiction with methodologies such as EEG, eye-tracking and other imaging techniques. Upon graduation, Polina plans to pursue a career of a research scientist in the pharmaceutical industry. In her free time, she likes to travel, ride horses and read.
Maria Potts
Maria is a Ph.D. student in the Behavioral Neuroscience program in WVU’s Psychology Department. Broadly, she is interested in the long-term effects of addiction on the brain and behavior. After receiving her degree, she hopes to become a professor at a small liberal arts college. Outside of work and school, Maria enjoys reading, painting, and singing.
Katherine Muksuris
Katherine (Kat) is a graduate student in the Behavioral Neuroscience program at WVU’s Psychology Department. Kat’s research interests primarily include Parkinson’s disease and how patients with Parkinson’s respond to stimuli that encourage risky behaviors. After graduating, Kat will pursue a career in teaching in a primarily undergraduate institution, such as a liberal arts college. Outside of the lab, she enjoys drawing, traveling, and studying languages.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Brianna Schlierf
Brianna is a senior at WVU, majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology. She joined the BBA lab in Fall 2022 to complete her Capstone project. She plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career in Neuropsychology. In her free time, she enjoys watching football and playing with dogs!
Laura Loeffelbein
Laura is a senior at WVU, majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Medical Humanities and Health Sciences. She was a volunteer research assistant at the BBA lab before embarking on her Capstone project in the fall of 2022. She plans to attend medical school and pursue a career in Neurology. She enjoys going to concerts, reading, and teaching chemistry & English.
Jamie Dotson
Jamie is a junior at WVU majoring in Psychology. She joined the lab in the fall of 2021 via the Research Apprenticeship Program and continues to volunteer in the lab. After graduation, she plans to pursue graduate training to become a neuropsychologist. She enjoys running, painting, and listening to music.
Gillian Kaier
Gillian is a junior at West Virginia University, majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology. She is a volunteer research assistant at the BBA Lab. She plans to attend graduate school to become a Neuropsychologist after graduation. She likes to read, ski, and spend time with friends and family.
Logan Riffey
Logan is a senior at WVU majoring in Psychology and Biology with an emphasis in Neuroscience. He is an AGE-ADAR Scholar and completing his last year in the program as an RA for the BBA Lab. Logan intends to pursue a doctoral degree in neuropsychology and research the neural processes of psychedelic drugs in the treatment of mental illnesses.
Lab Alumni
Moyosoreoluwa Jacobs
Moyo obtained research experience in the BBA lab as an MA candidate in Counseling in the summer of 2021.
Molly Summers
A neuroscience major at WVU, Molly gained research experience in the lab via the Research Apprenticeship Program in 2020 - 2021.
Margaret Craw
Margaret was an undergraduate research assistant in the lab in 2021-2022 before moving on to pursue a career as a physician assistant.
Alik Assi
Alik is a senior at WVU majoring in Neuroscience. He was an undergraduate research assistant in the BBA lab in 2020-2022 and completed his Capstone project in the lab.