Douglas Ferraro, Ph.D.
Douglas Ferraro supervises both the Maternal Health Lab and the Psychopharmacology Lab. Dr. Ferraro is, by training, a Forensic Pharmacologist with over 30 years of experience in both clinical and legal research. His early research focused on the behavioral effects of various illicit drugs. In recent years, he has become interested in the field of neuroendocrinology, specifically in how steroid hormones modulate cognition and mood states. Dr. Ferraro is currently supervising multiple student research projects focusing on the role of reproductive and adrenal hormones in cognition and mood.

Chandler Marrs, Ph.D.
Chandler Marrs founded the Maternal Health Lab as a psychology graduate student at UNLV. Since receiving her PhD, Dr. Marrs continues to direct and conduct research in the MHL in addition to teaching courses in health psychology (psy 470) and psychopharmacology (psy 422). Dr. Marrs' research focuses on the endocrine components of maternal mental illness. Her research includes investigations of pregnancy/postpartum hormone and mental health changes, the development of perinatal mood assessment scale and several Internet-based maternal and paternal health surveys. Future projects include an investigation of maternal mental health needs in the state of Nevada and the use of psychotropic medication during pregnancy.

Dr. Peter Gray, Ph.D.
Peter Gray, an assistant professor in the UNLV Anthropology Department and director of the Human Behavioral Endocrinology Lab, is investigating the hormonal correlates of human pair bonding and paternal care, the role of prolactin in non-parental human and most recently is collaborating with Dr. Marrs to investigate paternal care giving and mental health in new fathers.

Robert Durette
Rob is a second year graduate student working in both the Maternal Health Lab and the Math & Anxiety Lab. Rob began working in the MHL as an undergraduate and has been a Co-PI with Dr. Marrs for the ongoing Internet investigation of perinatal mood symptoms.  

Current Undergraduate Students

Chrisalbeth Guillermo
Chrisalbeth (Isal) is conducting her undergraduate honors research under the supervision of Dr. Marrs & Dr. Ferraro. Isal is investigating menstrual cycle related changes in DHEAS, testosterone, estradiol, estriol, progesterone, LH, FSH, & SHBG relative to changes in mood and cognition. She is also examining how common oral contraceptives influence hormones, mood and cognitive ability across the menstrual cycle. Finally, Isal, Heidi & Dr. Gray are looking at social attraction across the menstrual cycle.

Whitney Shofner
Whitney, a senior at UNLV, is majoring in biochemistry and is currently applying to medical school. Whitney has conducted research in the department of chemistry on polyaniline palladium composites, and she is currently performing a material analysis on the concentrations of hormones in the saliva of pregnant and postpartum women under Dr. Chandler Marrs.

Amy McGarry
Amy, a Senior at UNLV, is a Psychology major that hopes to go to grad school in the Fall of 09. Her interest is in Experimental Psychology, and she hopes to pilot a study in the near future on sexual hormones and their relation to Schizophrenia.

Sean Emes
Sean is an undergraduate student, pursuing a degree in psychology. He is the webmaster of the maternal health lab website.

Previous Undergraduate Students

Chassir Teel
Chassir is a junior majoring in Psychology, and is hoping to continue on to medical school in 2010.

Steven Antolin
Steven is a UNLV alumni with a B.A. in Psychology, trying to pursue a Master's Degree. He has one year of research experience, studying early grouping and stereotypes of infants. He is interested in Behavioral Psychology focusing on infants, children, and adolescents. He is currently managing the website and associated web research.

Kathryn Devis
Kathryn is a senior pursuing her bachelor's degree in Psychology. She is conducting her undergraduate honors thesis on Autism and the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). She will be graduating Spring 2008 and will continue to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis on Human Sexual Behavior. She assists with data collection in the MLH.

Heidi Manlove
Heidi is an undergraduate student pursuing a bachelor's degree in Anthropology. Heidi investigates psychological and cultural issues related to polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Lauren Emes
Lauren is an undergraduate student, pursuing degrees in psychology and anthropology. She is president of research for the Hormones and Diseases Research and Resource group and has two years of undergraduate research experience, studying diabetes in medical anthropology. Lauren assists with data collection in the Maternal Health Lab.