Team Members

Ali Brandt

Medical Student, BS Biochemistry

Ali Brandt joined the Peixoto lab in 2022. She graduated from Whitworth University where she obtained her undergraduate degree in biochemistry with a minor in biology and mathematics. While at Whitworth, she worked in Dr. Wheeler’s laboratory investigating molecular recognition profiles of diarylamides by using hot-stage thermomicroscopy of quasiracemic materials. Ali is currently enrolled as a medical student at the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine.

Elizabeth Medina

Graduate Student, BA Psychology

Elizabeth Medina joined the Peixoto lab in 2018. Previously, she obtained her undergraduate degree in psychology from Winona State University in Minnesota. There, she worked in Dr. Richard Deyo’s laboratory investigating the neurobiology of Alzheimer’s Disease. Shortly after graduating she joined the Peixoto lab, first as a full time research assistant and now as a graduate student. Elizabeth Medina is a Neuroscience PhD candidate studying the role of sleep in neurodevelopmental disorders using genetic mouse models of autism. Elizabeth’s studies include electroencephalographic techniques, imaging methodologies, and genetic and computational approaches.

Katelyn Middleton

Research Intern, BS Environmental Science and Anthropology

Katelyn Middleton joined the Peixoto lab in 2023. Katelyn studied Environmental Science and Anthropology at Western Washington University and recently joined the lab as a post-baccalaureate research intern. In the lab, she is currently busy with molecular benchwork in addition to managing the Autism mouse model colony. Katelyn loves being outside, and when not in the lab you can find her exploring the beautiful hiking trails around Spokane with her puppy.

Caitlin Ottaway

Graduate Student, BS in Neuroscience and BS in Psychology

Caitlin joined the Peixoto lab in 2024 as a neuroscience PhD student. She graduated from Washington State University with a B.S. in psychology and a B.S. in neuroscience. There, she worked in Dr. Kristen Delevich’s lab developing different assessments of inhibitory control in adolescent mice. She also worked in the Affective and Cognitive Influences of Decisions (ACID) Lab investigating risky behavior and sleep deprivation. Caitlin is currently studying the influence of sleep deprivation on gene expression in neurodevelopmental disorders and across different species using genomic and computational approaches.

Kristan Singletary, PhD

Laboratory Manager

Dr. Kristan Singletary is a North Carolina and Virginia native where she studied hot sauces, BBQ, and saltwater fish. She met the love of her life in Austin at the University of Texas where she studied hormones and neuropeptides involved in the sleep/wake cycle across vertebrates. She also investigated how nutrition, sleep/wake, and neuropeptides play a role in avian migration; Hook’em Horns!! As a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, she suffocated from the virulent and devastating work environment, but she was interested in the interactions of maternal behaviors, UPR, stress, and sleep in offspring. Additionally, she studied the functional connectivity of sleep/wake neuronal and hormone systems across sex and in aged mice. Kristan has also enjoyed medical writing, developing content for branded and unbranded pharmaceutical material. She was reborn in the Inland Northwest and joined the Peixoto Lab in July of 2015 as lab manager. She also manages the lab next door, so she keeps herself busy. She enjoys birdwatching, lifting weights, hiking, eating, wakeboarding, music, film, and adventurizing. She does miss saltwater fish and Eastern Carolina BBQ (and Texas BBQ!), but the immense variety of hops here takes her mind off all of that.

Alumni

Abrar Al Maghribi, PhD
Katie Ford, BS
John Koberstein, PhD
Sarah Peterson, MS
Alexander Popescu, BS
Hannah Schoch, PhD
Taylor Wintler, MD