Mentorship, outreach, and teaching are especially important to me to inspire and empower the next generation of scientists.

June 2022: National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) - Level 1 Training: Entering Mentoring Training

Trainee, IUPUI, Indianapolis, IN

As a trainee in this course, I learned effective ways to foster healthy mentor/mentee relationships, such as maintaining effective communication, aligning expectations, assessing understanding, addressing equity and inclusion, fostering independence, and promoting professional development.

Feb 2022: Indiana Science Communication Day

Participant; Indianapolis, IN

Poster title: Hit me with another shot, mice further understanding of binge drinking-induced brain changes

2019 - Present: Skype-a-Scientist

Guest Lecturer

I typically engage with 2-3 K-12 classrooms per year. Check out this interview!

During my time at IUPUI, I have mentored (and continue to mentor) several undergraduate and IUPUI Post Baccalaureate Research Education Program (IPREP) fellows, all of whom have gained enough laboratory experience to present first-author posters showcasing their research at local conferences (mentees in bold):

1) K. Echeumuna, S. Derisse, C. Ardinger, and N. M. Timme (Oct 2021). Alcohol and Water Drinking Patterns in Mice. Talk presented virtually at the Louis Stokes Midwest Regional Center of Excellence Conference

-Mentee Kelechi Echeumuna’s abstract was selected within the top 25

2) S. D. Weir, C. Ardinger, & C. C. Lapish (Apr 2021). A machine learning algorithm to identify bouts of drinking in rodent voluntary consumption studies. Poster presented virtually at the Greater Indiana Society for Neuroscience conference

-Mentee Seth Weir was awarded Best Undergraduate Poster

3) R. Pittman, C. Ardinger, & N. J. Grahame (Apr 2021). Differences in behavioral flexibility in HAP3 versus LAP3 mice. Poster presented virtually at the IUPUI Engaged Learning Showcase.

4) A. Ward, B. T. Freeman, C. Ardinger, & D. N. Linsenbardt (Apr 2019). cHAP mice are less sensitive to the motor depressing actions of alcohol compared to B6 mice. Poster presented at the Greater Indiana Society for Neuroscience conference, Indianapolis, IN.