Claire Kostelnik – Recipient of Psi Chi Undergraduate Research Grant
Senior psychology major Claire Kostelnik ’17 was selected as a recipient of a Psi Chi 2016-2017 Fall Undergraduate Research Grant for her SMP: “Intracerebral Injections of L655, 708 on Depressive-like Behavior.” Kostelnik is conducting the research under the mentorship of Aileen Bailey, Professor of Psychology and recipient of the college’s Aldom-Plansoen Distinguished Professorship.
Kostelnik received $1,500 to support her research which focuses on depression, a leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide. Together, Kostelnik and Bailey are continuing ongoing research in Dr. Bailey’s lab by exploring the antidepressant actions of a new drug (L655, 708) on a population of lab rats. They hope to demonstrate similar antidepressant actions as found in depression therapy drugs such as ketamine, without the typical 3-8 week effect delay.
Psi Chi is the International Honor Society in Psychology. SMCM has a large and active Psi Chi chapter, with dozens of members and annual recipients of student research grants.