Curriculum Vitae

                                                                                                                                          March 2006

Ericka Peterson

 

 

 

 

Work Address:                        Center for Functionally Integrative Neuroscience

Aarhus University Hospital

Noerrebrogade 44, Building 30

8000-DK Arhus

 

Contact:                                   Telephone: (45) 8949 4379 work

                                                Email: ericka@pet.auh.dk                                         

 

 

Education:

University of Pennsylvania                     M.L.A. (Master’s Degree)                                    2003- 2004    Philadelphia, PA

 

Westminster College                              B.S. (Neuroscience)                                             1999- 2003

New Wilmington, PA                            

 

Catholic Central High                            High School Diploma                                             1999   

         

Internships:

 

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Department of Neurosurgery                                         2000

 

University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Department of Neurosurgery                             2001

 

 

Employment:

 

Research Assistant – Univ. of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Department of Neurosurgery                                   2003

 

Research Assistant – Univ. of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Dept of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.        2003-

2004

 

Research Assistant – Univ. of Pennsylvania Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology                           2004

 

Research Experience:

Bioarchaeology: The Use of Isotopic Analysis  (Master’s Thesis Capstone Project) 

2003-2004                          

The purpose of this project was to identify indigenous versus foreign populations in the                           

remains of the Hasanlu settlement (800 BC) using isotope analysis of Carbon, Nitrogen, and

Strontium, through mass spectrometry. I was responsible for designing the study, collecting samples,

preparing samples for laboratory testing, collecting data, and writing a thesis.

University of Pennsylvania Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology

 

Bacterial Vaginosis Effects and Early Reproduction                                                                                2003-2004

(R01-HD38856-01A1-NIH)  To further investigate the effects of bacterial vaginosis diagnosis               

on early pregnancy and birth outcome. I was responsible for conducting baseline interviews, sample slide preparation, make follow-up interviews, and data entry.

Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatisitcs Research, Univ.of Pennsylvania Medical Center.

 

Fetal Origins Pilot Project                                                                                                                      2004 

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) under the NIH.

To further investigate the effects of environmental factors in fetal development.

I was responsible for conducting interviews, data entry, and data reports.

Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatisitcs Research, Univ.of Pennsylvania Medical Center.

 

Magnetic resonance imaging studies of age-dependent responses to scaled focal brain                                 

injury in the piglet

2003

To further investigate the age-dependent response of the brain to mechanical trauma, a cortical contusion model scaled for brain growth during maturation was used to study the evolution of injury over time as demonstrated on serial magnetic resonance imaging studies in piglets of different ages. I was responsible for pre-operative procedures, animal anesthesia, assistant to surgeon with injury and perfusion, immunohistochemistry, and data collection.

Journal of Neurosurgery. 2003 vol: 99 iss: 3 pg: 542 Acknowledged.

 

The comparison of acute versus chronic postpartum administration Quinpirole.                                           2002-2003

This study investigated the role of a dopamine D₂ agonist. Quinpirole was acutely and chronically             

administered to rat dams to measure their interaction with her pups. I was responsible for designing

the study, administering drug, running test trials, collecting data, writing a thesis, and presenting the results.

The faculty advisor was Dr. Alan G. Gittis Ph.D.

Poster Presentation at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting, (Orlando, 2002).

 

Comparison of the effects of AIT-082 and AIT-034 on aged rats on radial arm maze tasks.                        2001

This research was conducted in the Westminster College Behavioral Neuroscience Lab over the course

of one year. I was responsible for designing parts of the study and analyzing the data.

The faculty supervisor was Dr. Alan G. Gittis Ph.D.

 

The effects of dose and repeat administration on the anti-amnestic properties of AIT-082.                         2000

This research was conducted in the Westminster College Behavioral Neuroscience Lab over the course

of one year. I was responsible for administering the treatment injections and testing the rodents daily.

The faculty supervisor was Dr. Alan G. Gittis Ph.D.

 

Awards and Honors:

 

David B. Gray Social Action Award 2004– awarded annually to seniors who have applied social psychological principles for the improvement of community and society.

 

Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience Travel Award  2002– awarded to ten undergraduates nationally for outstanding undergraduate research in the field of Neuroscience.(Society for Neuroscience, Orlando)

 

Maude Myers Trust Fund 2001– awarded to students with academic achievements and extracurricular activities, selected by the Board of Trustees of Westminster College.

 

Van Gorder/Smith Scholarship Fund 2001–awarded to pre-medical students, with outstanding academic credentials, and highly recommended by their clergyman.

 

National Collegiate Natural Sciences Award Winner 2000                                                                    

 

Scientific Course Work:

Introduction to Psychology        General Chemistry I and II         Organic Chemistry I and II         

Behavioral Neuroscience           Biology I and II                          Philosophy of Mind

Biochemistry (audit)                  Developmental Neuroscience     Neurophilosophy of the Mind     

Human Genetics                       Anatomy & Physiology               Developmental Psychopathology

Death and Dying                       Bioethics and Society                 Forensic Anthropology                    

Disease and Society                  Behavioral Pharmacology           Bioarchaeology I and II

Baltic Summer School 2005       STATA                                     Physics I and II

 

Past and Present Memberships:

 

-Elected Vice President of Mortar Board (Senior Honorary Society)

-Mortar Board (Senior National Honor Society)

-Tri-Beta (Biology Honorary Society)

-Psychology Club

-Executive officer, Zeta Tau Alpha (National Social Sorority)

-Who’s Who among America’s Colleges and Universities

 

Meetings Attended:

-Society for Neuroscience (SFN) 2001, San Diego, CA

-Society for Neuroscience (SFN) 2002, Orlando, FL (Presenter; Award Winner)

-Society for Neuroscience (SFN) 2003, New Orleans, LA

-Society for Neuroscience (SFN) 2005, Washington D.C.

-OAK Meeting (Odense Aarhus Copenhagen), 2005 Aarhus, DK

-Brain and Mind Forum 2005, Denmark

-Brain Storm 2006, Denmark

-PhD Day Aarhus University 2006, Denmark

-Predictive Coding and the Mind: Prospects and Perspectives 2006, Denmark

 

Publications:

Duhaime AC, Hunter JV, Grate LL, Kim A, Golden J, Demidenko E, Harris C. (2003) Magnetic resonance imaging studies of age-dependent responses to scaled focal brain injury in the piglet. Journal of Neurosurgery. 2003 vol: 99 iss: 3 pg: 542. (Ericka Peterson-Acknowledged)