Amelia Cuarenta

She/Her

I am queer and I am a neuroscientist.//

 

I began my training in science as an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I
found my calling junior year when I took course called, Behavioral Genomics, Genetics, and
Epigenetics. This course changed my career trajectory and from this point on all my coursework
was focused on genetics, epigenetics, and neuroscience. I stayed at UW-Madison for graduate
school, and I received my PhD in December 2020. For my dissertation I investigated the impact
of early life stress on mobile genetic elements and adolescent behavior.

I am currently a postdoc investigating neural mechanisms that relate to risk and resilience for
the development of behaviors related to substance use disorder. In fall 2025 I will start my own
lab, and we will investigate how environmental experiences impact factors related to chromatin
remodeling, the epigenome, and genomic changes to discern how social and addictive
behaviors are impacted throughout the lifespan.

Outside of work my interests include weightlifting, running, ultimate frisbee, cooking, and hiking
with my dog

@thefortylab.bsky.social