Tania L. Roth, assistant professor of psychological and brain sciences
at the University of Delaware, has received an Early Career Impact
Award from the Federation of Associations in Behavioral and Brain
Sciences (FABBS) Foundation.
Roth was nominated for the honor by the International Society for
Developmental Psychobiology and will officially receive the award at the
societys annual meeting in July. She was selected as a recipient in
recognition of her major research contributions to the sciences of
mind, brain and behavior, FABBS said.
Roth, a behavioral neuroscientist, studies what happens to the brain
when stress occurs early in life, exploring how that experience can
cause molecular changes to DNA. She works in the area of behavioral
epigenetics, or the study of specific molecular modifications that
change gene expression and produce short- and long-term effects on
physiology and behavior.
Using a rodent model, Roth investigates the relationship between
environmental experiences and life-long patterns of gene expression and
behavior. Her work focuses on DNA methylation a chemical change in the
brain that is important for cell development and gene expression.
She has investigated the neurobehavioral basis of infant attachment
to an abusive caregiver and has been part of a national consortium of
researchers seeking to better understand posttraumatic stress disorder.
Roth has participated in brain awareness events and given lectures
across the United States. Her work has been featured in numerous media
outlets including The Scientist, Psychiatric News, Nature News Feature and Science magazine.
About FABBS and the FABBS Foundation
FABBS is a coalition of scientific societies that conducts advocacy on behalf of those societies in Washington, D.C.
Its sister organization, the FABBS Foundation, was established in
2004 to educate the public about the contributions of brain and
behavioral sciences to the well-being of individuals and society.
The foundations activities include connecting scientists to teachers
through the National Lab Network; posting educational videos and
publishing materials for classroom use that highlight scientific
advances; offering free Science Cafes that allow the public to learn
about research and to meet leading scientists; and engaging young people
in science through the USA Science and Engineering Festival.
