JCESOM Research Day Lab Picture: Many posters presented and a few oral presentations. It was a great day!
Louise Risher (Principle Investigator)
Dr. Risher began her undergraduate training at Nottingham Trent University, England where she majored in Physiology and Pharmacology. After accepting a full athletic scholarship for swimming she transferred to George Mason University and completed her B.Sc. in Applied Biology. She joined the laboratory of Dr. Alvin Terry at the University of Georgia (at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta) as a research technician and fell in love with neuroscience. She went on to complete her Ph.D. in Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics in the laboratory of Dr. Terry with a focus on small animal behavioral neuropharmacology and toxicology. Dr. Risher conducted her postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Dr. Scott Swartzwelder in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University Medical Center. As part of the Neurobiology of Adolescent Drinking In Adulthood (NADIA), she used a rodent model to investigate the long-term effects of binge drinking on learning and memory processes. In 2016 she was promoted to Assistant Professor and began a new line of investigation into the role of glia in modulating neuronal function following adolescent ethanol exposure. In March of 2018, Dr. Risher and her husband Dr. Chris Risher (http://chrisrisherlab.com) joined the faculty at Marshall University. In 2024, Dr. Risher was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure. In 2025, Dr. Risher became the coordinator for the Neuroscience and Developmental Biology Cluster.
Hannah Sexton, B.S.
Hannah is the lab manager and the ‘glue’ of the Risher Lab. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a major of biological sciences. She began her career in research at Duke University over 16 years ago. She moved to Marshall with Dr. Risher in March 2018. When she began research it was just a job but over the years addiction research has become her passion. She enjoys learning new things and solving problems. Her favorite lab-related activity is conducting small animal surgery - of any kind. In her free time, she enjoys watching Liverpool FC and taking her dogs (babies) to the park.
Nisha Kumar
Alyssa Ilhenfeld
Grace Angelona
Quentin Owens
Kady crank
Jake seagraves
Lucas stanley
Previous Members
Aaliyah Walls, B.S.
Aaliyah (right) was an undergraduate in the lab. She conducted her Capstone with us and entered Medical School in the Fall 2026.
Mika Jones, B.S.
Mika was an undergraduate in the lab. She graduated from Marshall University with a double major in Biology and Biochemistry. She is currently studying for the MCAT.
Christopher Walker, Ph.D.
Dr. Walker graduated in 2024 and is now a post doc at MUSC.
Isabell Roop, B.S.
Isabell completed her undergraduate studies in the lab, where she earned the Marshall University Creative Discovery Award and 1st place at the JCESOM Research Day for Best Poster Presentation. She is currently pursuing a master's degree while preparing for medical school.
Christian Harris, Ph.D.
Dr. Christian Harris graduated in 2022. She went on to post doc at North Carolina Central University before accepting a tenure track faculty position at St. Augustine’s University. She is now employed by the Federal Government.
TRISTAN MUCK, B.S.
Tristan is currently a lab technician in the Risher lab, she began as an undergraduate volunteer and moved to full-time once she graduated with a bachelor's in biological sciences from Marshall University. This was her first experience in research. She enjoys organizing complex things and her favorite lab activity is image analysis and cellular reconstructions. In her free time, she likes to read and spend time with her family, especially her dog. Tristan is currently on maternity leave with her beautiful daughter. Welcome to the world little one!
OliviA Coulter B.S.
My name is Olivia Coulter and I’m a 5th year PhD student. I am from Fort Smith, Arkansas and obtained my bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Professions. I chose to be in this lab because I have recently found a great interest in neuroscience research and love to expand my skills on the growing technological advances in the field. I enjoy the atmosphere of the lab and all its members. In my free time, I love to watch scary movies, go hiking, and listen to music or audiobooks. Olivia recently received funding from NASA, two travel awards, and best graduate student poster at ASN.
Nisha is an undergrad that joined the lab in 2024. She has completed her capstone in the lab and is the lead on our spatial transcriptomics (NSF funded) project. She recently won an award for her poster presentation at the Research and Creativity Research Day 2026. She has already been accepted into the JCESOM 2027.
Alyssa is an undergrad that joined the lab in 2024. She won a 1st place award for her poster presentation at the West Virginia American Academy of Sciences. She currently conducting her capstone in the lab.
Grace is an undergrad that joined the lab in 2025 and has already won a 1st place award for her poster presentation at the West Virginia American Academy of Sciences.
Quentin is an undergrad and has been in the lab since 2024 and is going into his senior year at Marshall. He has already been accepted into the JCESOM 2027.
Kady is an undergrad that joined the lab in 2025. She intends to pursue a PhD in neuroscience.
Jake is an undergrad and has been in the lab since 2024 and is going into his senior year at Marshall. He has already been accepted into the JCESOM 2027.
Lucas was an undergrad in the lab. He conducted his capstone with us and won best oral presentation by an undergraduate student at the JECSOM Research Day. He recently graduated and was accepted into the JCESOM 2026.