Elora Wolf Williams

Written By Elora Williams

Video is of my cat, Khal, performing an operant task. He “bonks” my leg because this action has been and is reinforced with his food.
I like to think I’ve conditioned him to say, “please and thank you”.

Cat mom - 1
Cat - 0

Education

University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder Co

  • PhD Candidate, Behavioral Neuroscience (2021 - present)

Boise State University, Boise ID

  • B.S. Psychology (2011-2015)

  • Psi Chi Honors Society

Employment

Salk Institute for Biological Studies (San Diego, CA)

Molecular Neurobiology Lab, Dr. Xin Jin (2016-2021)
Lab manager/Research Assistant

St. Alphonsus Medical Center & Physician Research (Boise, ID)

Boise State Department of Psychology, Dr. Pennie Seibert (2014-2016)
Research Coordinator

Boise State University (Boise, ID)

Living & Learning Community (2014)
Program Assistant

Boise State University (Boise, ID)

New Student & Family Program (2013)
Orientation Leader

National Forest Service (Salmon, ID)

Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District (2012)
Biological Aid

Research Experience

Salk Institute for Biological Studies (San Diego, CA)
Molecular Neurobiology Lab, Dr. Xin Jin (2016-2021)

  • Nigrostriatal dopamine in goal-directed behavior (2018 - 2021)

  • Center for Epigenomics of the Mouse Brain Atlas Collaboration (2017 - 2021)

  • Emotion and movement circuitry (2016 -2018)

  • Input/output characterization of striatal interneurons (2016 - 2018)

St. Alphonsus Medical Center & Physician Research (Boise, ID)
Boise State Department of Psychology, Dr. Pennie Seibert (2014-2016)

  • Physical and emotional impact of Parkinson’s Disease (2014 - 2016)

  • Sleep disorders within the pediatric population (2014 - 2016)

  • Long-Term Prognosis of Traumatic Brain Injury (2014 - 2016)

Publications

Presentations

  • Williams, E.W., Hollon N.G., Jin X. Element-specific inhibition of nigrostriatal dopamine release during action sequences. Gordon Research Seminar & Conference: Catecholamines. Newry, ME (2019). Poster presentation

  • Hollon N.G., Williams, E.W., Li H., Traut T.I., Howard, C.D., Jin X. Action-specific suppression of nigrostriatal dopamine release by goal-directed behavior. Gordon Research Seminar & Conference: Catecholamines. Newry, ME (2019). Poster presentation

  • Zhang Z., Zhou J., Pang Y., Rivkin A., Assakura Miyazaki P., Barlett A., Aldridge A., Nery J.R., Castanon R., Rashid M., Vu M., Jacobs M., Ito T., Williams E.W., Smith J.B., Lee C.-T., Le D., Lee K.-F., Jin X., Mukamel E.A., Behrens M.,Callaway E.M., Ecker J.R. Linking projection neuron types to epigenetic profiles by single-cell methylome sequencing. Society for Neuroscience. Chicago, IL (2019). Poster presentation

  • Zhang Z., Zhou J., Pang Y., Rivkin A., Assakura Miyazaki P., Rashid M., Barlett A., Sandoval J., Nery J.R., Jacobs M., Williams E.W., Smith J.B., Lee C.-T., Le D., Castanon R., Lee K.-F., Jin X., Mukamel E.A., Behrens M., Ecker J.R., Callaway E.M. Linking cortical projection cell types by epigenetic profiling to neural circuits. Society for Neuroscience. San Diego, CA (2018). Poster presentation

  • Smith J., Kim R., Aoki S., Williams E.W., Role for the claustrum in the emotion regulation of behavior. Salk Science at Seaside, San Diego, CA (2018). Poster presentation

  • Williams, E.W., Seibert, P., Poulton, C., Aguilar, R. Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Pharmaceutical Intervention and Symptomology in Childhood and Adolescence. Rocky Mountain Psychological Association Conference. Denver, CO (2016). Oral presentation 

  • Paredes J., Parisi N., Williams E.W., Poulton C., Seibert P. Divergence of perceived treatment efficacy in individuals with Parkinson’s Disease and caregivers. Rocky Mountain Psychological Association Conference. Denver, CO (2016). Poster presentation

  • Poulton C., Williams E.W., Seibert P., Zimmerman C. Spirituality as a facilitator for recovery from traumatic brain injury. American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Vancouver, Canada (2016). Poster presentation

  • Williams E.W., Paredes J., Poulton C., Seibert P. Evolution of sleep disturbances in Parkinson’s Disease individuals and caregivers. Western Psychological Association. Long Beach, CA (2016). Poster presentation. 

  • Aguilar R., Poulton C., Williams E.W., Complex covariance of psychological disturbances and sleep disorders in pediatrics. Western Psychological Association. Long Beach, CA (2016). Poster presentation. 

  • Carroll E., Poulton C., Williams E.W., Seibert P. Longitudinal research on traumatic brain injury: Challenges and lessons learned. Western Psychological Association. Long Beach, CA (2016). Poster presentation. 

Skills/Techniques

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Bench-Top

  • Behavioral assays

  • Confocal Imaging

  • Cryostat cutting

  • Data collection, organization, and analysis

  • Dry Lab: MATLAB, Deeplabcut, Adobe Illustrator, GraphPad Prism, Microsoft & Google suit

  • Experimental planning

  • Intra-cranial self-stimulation

  • Immhunohisotochemistry

  • In-vivo FSCV recordings

  • Making shared lab solutions

  • Microtome cutting

  • Mounting tissue

  • Neuropharmacology

  • Optogenetics

  • PCR assay

  • Perfusion

  • Presenting

  • Stereotaxic brain surgery: hamilton syringe, iontophoretic, nano-injections, FSCV implants (chronic, carbon-fiber microelectrodes), optogenetic fibers

wolfart.jpeg

Managerial

  • Adapting to changing tasks/priorities

  • Animal colony maintenance 

  • Collaboration coordination

  • Communication 

  • Completing grant milestones 

  • Delegating tasks 

  • Equipment operation/maintenance 

  • Grading assignments 

  • Grant budgeting & allocation

  • IACUC protocol writing 

  • IRB protocol writing 

  • Initiating and implementing change

  • Interviewing

  • Lab maintenance, organization, and administration

  • Leadership 

  • Maintaining records: Controlled substances,
    chemicals, toxins, hazardous materials,
    lab supplies, experiments

  • Mediating & managing conflict 

  • Outreach

  • Planning & scheduling

  • Teaching/training

  • Teamwork

Leadership/Teaching Experience/Outreach

Salk Institute (San Diego, CA)

  • Campus Culture Advisory Committee member; lab manager representative (2019-2021)

  • Liaison for lab and institute departments (2016-2021)

  • Lab demonstrator for students and wider community (2018-2021)

  • SciChat education outreach (2020)

  • Salk Mobile Science Lab education outreach (2018-2019)

Boise State University (Boise, ID)

  • Elected student representative; Faculty Hiring Committee (2016)

  • Research coordinator (2016)

  • Panel Member for Boise State Psychology Education Outreach (Boise, ID) 2016

  • Boise Academic Decathlon Judge (Boise, ID) 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

  • Teaching assistant; Research Methods (Fall 2015)

  • Teaching assistant; Abnormal Psychology (Fall 2014)p[

  • Student mentor; International Student Relations (2014-2015)

  • Program assistant and mentor; Living & Learning Community (2014)

  • Partnership Jamaica (Negril and Montego Bay, Jamaica) 2012

Health

  • Yoga instructor certified

Elora Williams
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Drew Duglan, PhD