Current Lab Members

Laura Been, PhD (she/her), Primary Investigator

I first became interested in Neuroscience as an undergraduate in Dr. Jill Becker’s laboratory at the University of Michigan, where I examined the impact of ovarian hormones on drug self-administration in female rats. After graduating with honors in Biopsychology and Cognitive Sciences (+ double major in English!), I joined the graduate programs in Psychology and Neuroscience at Georgia State University. My research in Dr. Aras Petrulis’ laboratory examined the neural regulation of social and reproductive behaviors. The skills and knowledge that I gained from my undergraduate (sex differences in drug abuse) and graduate (neural basis of reproductive behaviors) training dovetailed into my post-doctoral research in Dr. Robert Meisel’s laboratory at the University of Minnesota. There, I investigated the molecular and cellular mechanisms of plasticity following rewarding experiences. I joined the faculty in Psychology and Neuroscience at Haverford College in 2015. Here, I teach courses in Neuroscience and Psychology and have an independent, extramurally-funded research program in behavioral neuroendocrinology. My research program is driven by talented, hard-working undergraduates. Mentoring students in the lab is one of the most fulfilling parts of my job.  When I am not in the lab or the classroom, I enjoy spending time with my family, hiking, baking, coffee, reading, podcasts, and living room dance parties.

Honorary Lab Members

Been Lab Alumni

• Amanda Halliday, B.S. ’23 — IRTA Fellow, National Institutes of Mental Health
• Leo Costa, B.S. ’23 —
• Brandon Alonso, B.S. ’22 — post-baccalaureate pre-health program, Thomas Jefferson University
• Sarah Blossom, B.S. ’22 — IRTA Fellow, National Institutes of Drug Abuse
• Roy Simamora, B.S. ’22 — Ph.D. program in Neuroscience, Emory University
• Jackie Corbin, B.S. ’22 — M.S. in Bioethics Program, University of Pennsylvania, Emergency Room Technician, University of Pennsylvania Hospital
• Keegan Hoag, B.S. ’22 — Research Specialist, Neurology Department, University of Pennsylvania (Jensen Lab) 
• Rachel White, B.S. ’22 – M.S. in Bioethics Program, University of Pennsylvania, Research Technician, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (Flake Lab)
• Clara Merrill, B.S. ’22 –Accelerated B.S.N. program at Villanova University, EMT and PCT
• Sophia Mercado, B.S. ’22 — Research Assistant, University of Pennsylvania (Ellebrecht Lab), Medical Assistant, Aura Endocrinology
• Hailey Morris, B.S. ’21 — M.D. program, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
• Marité Horton, B.S. ’21 — Research Coordinator, Center for OCD and Related Disorders, New York State Psychiatric Institute at Columbia University
• Eliza Koren, B.S. ’21 –Ph.D. program in School Psychology, Lehigh University
• Nicole Swisher, B.S. ’21 — Patient Care Specialist/Medical Assistant, Newport Fertility Center, Newport, CA
• Kagan Harris, B.S. ’21 —
• Abiola Irvine, B.S. ’20 — Postbaccalaureate program in Pre-Health Specialized Studies, University of Pennsylvania, EMT
• Maeve Gaffney, B.S. ’20 –accelerated BSN Program, Columbia University School of Nursing
• Claire Eckstein-Indik, B.S. ’20 –Research Assistant, Temple University (Heimberg Lab)
• Dylan Gearinger, B.S. ’19 — Ph.D. program in Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University
• Allie Gibbons, B.S. ’19 — M.D. program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
• Achint Singh, B.S. ’19 — D.O. program, Rowan School of Medicine
• Hannah Wild, B.S. ’19 — Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology, University of Kentucky
• Natalie Pisch, B.S. ’19 — MBA program, Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School
• Alissa Valentine, B.S. ’19 — Ph.D. program in Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
• Emily O’Sullivan, B.S., ’19 — Animal Research Associate, Regenernon Pharmaceuticals
• Dayana Davila, B.S., ’19 — Accelerated BSN Program, Columbia School of Nursing
• Katie Beach, B.S. ’18 — Research Assistant, Ichan School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai (Nestler Laboratory)
• Lauren Benedetto, B.S. ’18 — M.D. program, University of Connecticut
• Paige Carson, B.S., ’18 — M.D. program, University of Buffalo
• Will Foster, B.S. ’18 — Ph.D program in Neuroscience, Columbia University
• Liz Heaton, B.S. ’18 — Ph.D. program in Neuroscience, Emory University (Gourley Laboratory)
• Taylor Levine, B.S. ’18 — Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology, Oregon Health & Science University
• Shantal Taveras, B.S. ’18 — Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology, Queens College, NY
• Rose Glass, B.S. ’17 –Ph.D. program in Neuroscience, University of North Carolina
• Claudia Amaral, B.S. ’17 — M.D. program, Ponce Health Sciences University, Puerto Rico
• Rachel Lee, B.A. ’17 – Human Resources Specialist, Main Line Surgical Center, Haverford, PA
• Clio Bodie, B.A. ’17 — M.A. in Education, Bank Street School
• Breanna D’Antonio, B.A. ’17 — M.S. in Social Work, University of Pennsylvania, Clinical Research Coordinator, University of Pennsylvania, Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program (Perlis Lab)
• Maddie Caron, B.A. ’17 — sales associate, Nordstrom Corporation  
• Averi Gaines, B.A. ’17 — Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Luis Acaba, B.S. ’16 — M.D. program, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
• David Sidibe, B.A. ’16 — Ph.D. program in Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania
• Jack Thygesen, B.S. ’16 — M.D. program, Indiana University
• Alexis Williams, B.A. ’16 — O.D. (Doctor of Optometry) program, Southern College of Optometry
• Jaden Wang, B.A. ’16 — Ph.D program in Mathematics, Georgia Tech University, M.S. program in Neuroimaging and Informatics, University of Southern California
• Harrison Van der Kloot, B.S. ’16 — M.D. program, Temple University
• Olivia Walsh, B.S., ’16 — Psy.D. program in School Psychology, St. John’s University