Merel Dagher

Bio:

I was born in the country of Syria and my parents and I immigrated to the United States when I was 4 years old. In 2016, I received my Bachelor of Arts degrees in Cognitive Science and Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley. In 2017, I began graduate school at the University of California, Los Angeles under the mentorship of Prof. Anne Andrews. My research examined the neurobiological effects of exposure to in utero stress and antidepressants on offspring using a rodent model. In May 2022, I graduated with my PhD in Molecular Toxicology and shortly after, began my postdoctoral research in the laboratory of Prof. Catherine Cahill. My current research examines brain circuits involved in chronic pain and opioid seeking.

During my undergraduate and graduate studies, I have been fortunate to have incredible professors that have inspired me to pursue a teaching-focused faculty position. I have enriched my research experiences with teaching neuroscience and psychiatry courses throughout my academic training. Through the IRACDA program, I hope to advance my understanding of how to support students, empower them to enjoy and succeed in education, and mentor the great minds of generations to come.