Hi, my name is Melanie Herbst and I am a double major graduate from Western Washington University (as of Spring 2022) in both Psychology (3.84 GPA) and Behavioral Neuroscience (3.83 GPA). I have extensive training in various lab techniques including electrophysiology, optogenetics, cytology, PCR sequencing, pharmacological applications, along with rodent handling and behavioral analysis. Over the past two years, I have worked closely with the model organism, C.Elegans, and explored the influence of various optogenetic and pharmacological interventions on the neural circuitry involved in associative conditioning and various plasticity alterations. I have developed a strong passion for both research and the field of neuroscience and am quite interested in continuing my work examining various influences on addiction processes along with the synaptic and behavioral plasticity that follows.