Undergraduate: B.A., Psychology (Summa Cum Laude, University Honors), Loyola University
Graduate: M.S., Experimental Psychology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
In Progress: Ph.D. Brain and Behavior Sciences, Psychology Department, University of Georgia: Athens, GA
Current research interests: My primary interest is the neural and genetic basis of psychosis. I am specifically interested in genes related to prefrontal function and their effect on neuroimaging measures in healthy and psychosis populations. Currently, I am evaluating the effects of genes governing g-protein and non g-protein mediated pathways on prefrontal cortex structure, function, and connectivity as measured by fMRI in healthy individuals and individuals with schizophrenia.
Rodrigue, A., Austin, B., Chi, L., Pierce, J., Krafft, C., Li, Q., Dyckman, K., and McDowell, J. (in prep). Brain activation differences in schizophrenia during context dependent processing of saccade tasks.
Rodrigue, A., Austin, B., Clementz, B., and McDowell, J. (in prep). Practice induced changes in prefrontal cortex connectivity in schizophrenia.
Pierce, J., Krafft, C., Rodrigue, A., Bobilev, A., Lauderdale, J., & McDowell, J. (2014). Intrinsic functional connectivity networks in individuals with aniridia. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 8:1013.
Schaeffer, D., Krafft, C., Schwarz, N., Chi, L., Rodrigue, A., Pierce, J., Allison, J., Yanasak, N., Liu, T., Davis, C., & McDowell, J. (2014). An 8-month exercise intervention alters uncinate fasciculus white matter anisotropy in overweight children. Psychophysiology, 51(8), 728-733.
Krafft, C., Schwarz, N., Chi, L., Li, Q., Schaeffer, D., Rodrigue, A., Pierce, J., Dykman, K., & McDowell, J. (2012). The location and function of parietal cortex supporting of reflexive and volitional saccades, a meta-analysis of over a decade of functional MRI data. In Parietal Cortex: Anatomy, Functions and Disorders. Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers.
Rodrigue, A. & Perkins, D. (2012). Divergent thinking abilities across the schizophrenic spectrum. Creativity Research Journal, 24(2-3), 163-168
Honors
2015- UGA Franklin College-University of Liverpool Doctoral Student Short-Term International Research Fellowship
2014- UGA Psychology Department Marsh Mentoring Award
2013- Ford Fellowship Honorable Mention
2013- Bursary to attend Wellcome Trust workshop on Genetic Analysis of Multifactorial Disease
2012,2013- Franklin Foundation Neuroimaging Training Program Travel Award
2012- Bursary to attend Cold Spring Harbor Workshop on Schizophrenia
2011-2013- UGA Graduate Recruitment Opportunity Fellowship