Judith S. A. Asem, Ph.D.
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 Last updated: February 2018

CONTACT INFORMATION

Email                                       judith.s.a.asem@gmail.com
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EDUCATION
May 2012 – Aug 2015            Johns Hopkins University
                                                Baltimore, Maryland
                                                Ph.D., Psychological & Brain Sciences
                                                            Advisor: Peter C. Holland

Aug 2010 – May 2012            Johns Hopkins University
                                                Baltimore, Maryland
                                                M.A., Psychological & Brain Sciences
                                                            Advisor: Peter C. Holland

Jan 2008 – May 2010           Purdue University
                                                West Lafayette, Indiana
                                                Honors B.A., Behavioral Neuroscience
                                                            summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

Aug 2006 – Dec 2007             Miami University
                                                Oxford, Ohio
                                                worked toward B.A., Psychology
                                                worked toward B.A., Business Management


RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

University of California, Irvine
Aug 2015 – Oct 2017             Postdoctoral Scholar, “Temporal Organization of Memories”
                                                            Principal Investigator: Norbert J. Fortin

Johns Hopkins University
Aug 2010 – Aug 2015            Graduate Research Fellow, “Learning, Memory, and Motivation”
                                                            Advisor: Peter C. Holland

                                                Doctoral Dissertation: Spatial Learning Strategy Selection in the Submerged T-Maze
                                                Master’s Thesis: The Effect of High-Fat Diet on the Renewal of Memory in Extinction

Purdue University
Aug 2009 – May 2010            Undergraduate Research Assistant, “Obesity and Memory”
                                                            Advisors: Terry L. Davidson, James S. Nairne

Aug 2008 – May 2009            Undergraduate Research Assistant, “Vision and Perception”
                                                            Advisor: Gregory Francis


AWARDS AND HONORS

University of California, Irvine
2017                                       Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Mentorship of Undergraduate Research
2015 - 2017                            National Institutes of Health (NIH) and
                                               
Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (MIND)’s
                                                A
lzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) T32 Training Grant Fellowship

Johns Hopkins University
2014                                        Mary D. Ainsworth Outstanding Female Graduate Student Award
2013 - 2014                             Dean’s Teaching Fellowship
2013                                        Walter L. Clark Service Award
2010 - 2013                             National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF)
2010 - 2012                             Owen Scholars Fellowship

Purdue University
2010                                        Hadley Research Award
2010                                        Colloquium Best Poster Award
2010                                        Outstanding Senior in Psychology Award
2009                                        Phi Beta Kappa

2008 - 2010                             Black Caucus Faculty & Staff Award
2008                                        Golden Key International Honour Society
2008                                        Literary Awards Honorable Mention

Tippecanoe County, Indiana
2006                                        YWCA Woman of Promise Award


PUBLICATIONS

Book Chapter
Asem, J.S.A., and Fortin, N.J. (2017). Memory for Space, Time, and Episodes Mammals. Chapter in Learning and Memory: A Comprehensive Reference. 2nd edition.

Journal Articles
Elias, G.A., Asem, J.S.A., Ng, C-W., Quirk, C.R., Allen, T.A., and Fortin, N.J. (in prep). Distinct contributions of hippocampal, prefrontal, perirhinal, and nucleus reuniens regions to the memory for sequences of events.
Ng, C-W., Elias, G.A., Asem, J.S.A., Allen, T.A., and Fortin, N.J. (2017). Nonspatial sequence coding varies along the CA1 transverse axis. Behavioural Brain Research, available online pre-print.
Figley, C.R., Asem, J.S.A., Levenbaum, E.L., and Courtney, S.M. (2017). Effects of body mass index and body fat percent on default mode, executive control, and salience network structure and function. Frontiers in Neuroscience.
          [Featured in a National Post article by Sharon Kirkey on July 7th, 2016.]
Asem, J.S.A.*, Schiffino, F.L.*, and Holland, P.C. (2015). Dorsolateral striatum is critical for the expression of surprise-induced enhancements in cue associability. European Journal of Neuroscience, 42, 2203-2213.
Asem, J.S.A., and Holland, P.C. (2015). Dorsolateral striatum implicated in the acquisition, but not expression, of immediate response learning in rodent submerged T-maze. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 123, 205-216.
Holland, P.C., Asem, J.S.A., Galvin, C., Hepps Keeney, C., Hsu, M., Miller, A., and Zhou, V. (2014). Blocking in autoshaped lever-pressing procedures with rats. Learning and Behavior, 42, 1-21.
Asem, J.S.A., and Holland, P.C. (2013). Immediate response strategy and shift to place strategy in submerged T-maze. Behavioral Neuroscience, 127(6), 854-859.
Asem, J.S.A., and Holland, P. C. (2012). The effect of high-fat diet on renewal of memory in extinction. Behavioral Neuroscience, 126(3), 493-498.


POSTERS AND ABSTRACTS
University of California, Irvine
Chmielewski, N.N., Ng, C-W., Asem, J.S.A., Elias, G.A., Gao, X., Vandenberg-Rodes, A., Shahbaba, B., Ombao, H., Limoli, C.L., and Fortin, N.J. (2017). Characterizing the time course of radiation-induced brain changes in memory performance and network activity in rats. School of Medicine Symposium (Irvine, CA).
Asem, J.S.A., Aldoghmi*, M.F., Kassir*, M.H., Mirza*, N.F.B., Chmielewski, N.N., Elias, G.A., Ng, C-W., Long, J.M., Rapp, P.R., and Fortin, N.J. (2017). Age-Associated Changes in Sequence Memory Performance and Multiregional Local Field Potential Synchrony in Rats. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts (Washington DC).                       
Asem, J.S.A., Kassir*, M.H., Mirza*, N.F.B., Chmielewski, N.N., Elias, G.A., Ng, C-W., Allen, T.A., and Fortin, N.J. (2016). Using DREADDs to Compare the Effects of Inactivating CA3 versus the CA3-CA1 Projection on the Memory for Sequences of Events. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts (San Diego, CA).
Chmielewski, N.N., Ng, C-W., Asem, J.S.A., Elias, G.A., Gao, X., Vandenberg-Rodes, A., Shahbaba, B., Ombao, H., Limoli, C.L., and Fortin, N.J. (2016). Characterizing the time course of radiation-induced brain changes in memory performance and network activity in rats. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts (San Diego, CA).
Elias, G.A., Ng, C-W., Asem, J.S.A., Allen, T.A., and Fortin, N.J. (2016). Prefrontal neurons track ordinal position within a sequence of events. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts (San Diego, CA).
Fortin, N.J., Asem, J.S.A., Ng, C-W., Quirk, C.R., Allen, T.A., and Elias, G.A. (2016). Distinct contributions of hippocampal, prefrontal, perirhinal, and nucleus reuniens regions to the memory for sequences of events. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts (San Diego, CA).
Ng, C-W., Elias, G.A., Asem, J.S.A., Allen, T.A., and Fortin, N.J. (2016). Nonspatial sequence coding varies along the CA1 transverse axis. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts (San Diego, CA).

Johns Hopkins University
Asem, J.S.A., and Holland, P.C. (2015). Dorsal Hippocampus is Unnecessary for the Expression of Either a Place or Response Spatial Strategy in the Rodent Submerged T-Maze. Poster presented at Society for Neuroscience Conference, Chicago, IL.
Asem, J.S.A., and Holland, P.C. (2014). Role of the Dorsolateral Striatum in the Acquisition and Expression of a Response Strategy in the Rodent Submerged T-Maze. Poster presented at Society for Neuroscience Conference, Washington, D.C.
Figley, C.R., Asem, J.S.A., Levenbaum, E.L., and Courtney, S.M. (2013). Individual Differences in Brain Structure and Function Associated with Body Mass Index and Body Fat Percentage Differences. Poster presented at Society for Neuroscience Conference, San Diego, CA.
Asem, J.S.A., Hepps Keeney, C.M., and Holland, P.C. (2012). Type of Motivation Modulates Spatial Learning Strategy Selection. Poster presented at Society for Neuroscience (SfN) Conference, New Orleans, LA.

Purdue University
Asem, J.S.A., McCrory, M.A., Nairne, J.S., and Davidson, T.L. (2010). Adiposity as a Predictor of Memory Retrieval Inhibition in Female Undergraduates. Poster presented at Purdue University Undergraduate Research Conference in Psychology, West Lafayette, IN.
Asem, J.S.A., McCrory, M.A., Nairne, J.S., and Davidson, T.L. (2010). Adiposity as a Predictor of Memory Retrieval Inhibition in Female Undergraduates. Poster presented at Midwestern Psychological Association (MPA) Conference, Chicago, IL.
Asem, J.S.A., McCrory, M.A., Nairne, J.S., and Davidson, T.L. (2010). Adiposity as a Predictor of Memory Retrieval Inhibition in Female Undergraduates. Poster presented at Purdue University Honors Colloquia, West Lafayette, IN.
Asem, J.S.A., and Francis, G. (2009). Afterimages from Invisible Colors. Poster presented at Purdue University Undergraduate Research Conference in Psychology, West Lafayette, IN.


INVITED TALKS
University of California, Irvine
Asem, J.S.A. (2016). Neural Mechanisms underlying Age-Associated Memory Impairments in the Memory for Sequences of Events. Invited speaker to the Training Retreat for T32 Training Grant on Neurobiology of Aging. University of California – Irvine, Irvine, CA. 
Asem, J.S.A. (2015). The Neurobiology of the Memory for Sequences of Events: A Synergistic Approach in Rats and Humans. Invited speaker to Mini-Symposium for T32 Training Grant on Neurobiology of Aging. University of California (Irvine). Irvine, CA.

Johns Hopkins University
Asem, J.S.A. (2015). A Taste of Research. Talk given to Advanced Placement Biology students, Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, Baltimore, MD.
Asem, J.S.A. (2014). A Taste of Research. Talk given to Advanced Placement Biology students, Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, Baltimore, MD.
Asem, J.S.A. (2013). Motivational Modulation of Spatial Learning Strategy Selection. Invited speaker to graduate student and faculty symposia. Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, Washington, D.C.
Asem, J.S.A. (2013). Effects of High-Fat Diet on the Brain. Talk given to Advanced Placement Biology students, Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, Baltimore, MD.
Asem, J.S.A. (2013). Motivational Modulation of Spatial Learning Strategy Selection. Invited speaker to Chesapeake Area Memory and Learning study group, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD.
Asem, J.S.A. (2012). Effects of High-Fat Diet on the Brain. Talk given to Advanced Placement Biology students, Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, Baltimore, MD.
Asem, J.S.A. (2011). Exploring the Brain. Talk given to freshman Biology students, Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, Baltimore, MD.

Purdue University
Asem, J.S.A., and Zaleski, N.J. (2010). The Effect of High-Fat Diet on the Body and Brain. Invited speaker to University Place Senior Living Community, West Lafayette, Indiana.
Asem, J.S.A. (2010). Dietary Factors, Adiposity, and Memory Retrieval Inhibition. Talk given at Butler Undergraduate Research Conference, Indianapolis, IN.
Asem, J.S.A. (2009). Afterimages from Invisible Colors. Talk given at Butler Undergraduate Research Conference, Indianapolis, IN.


TEACHING EXPERIENCE   (with approximate undergraduate class size)
Palomar College (Palomar, CA)
Spring 2018                                 Introduction to Psychology (50 students)
 
Vanguard University (Costa Mesa, CA)
Spring 2018                                 Biological Psychology (10 students)
 
Cerritos College (Cerritos, CA)
Spring 2018                                 Psychobiology (50 students)
Fall 2017                                      Psychobiology (30 students)
 
University of California, Irvine (Irvine, CA)
Summer 2017                              Brain and Behavior (45 students)
 
Coastline Community College (Newport Beach, CA)
Spring 2018                                 Abnormal Psychology (50 students)
Spring 2018                                 Development across the Life Span (100 students)
Spring 2017                                 Psychobiology (10 students)

Johns Hopkins University
Jan 2015                                  Your Lifestyle, Your Memory (20 students)
Fall 2014                                  Episodic Memory in Human and Nonhuman Animals (25 students)
Jan 2014                                  Your Lifestyle, Your Memory (20 students)
Jan 2013                                  Your Lifestyle, Your Memory (25 students)
Fall 2013                                  Research Methods in Experimental Psychology (100 students total, 20 per section)
Fall 2012                                  Research Methods in Experimental Psychology (100 students total, 20 per section)
Spring 2013                              Introduction to Psychology (200 students; Teaching Assistant)
Spring 2012                              Animal Behavior (200 students; Teaching Assistant)
Fall 2011                                  Introduction to Physiological Psychology (100 students; Teaching Assistant)
                                                            (now titled Foundations of Brain, Behavior, and Cognition)
Spring 2011                              Introduction to Social Psychology (300 students; Teaching Assistant)


UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SUPERVISION   (selected students)
University of California, Irvine
Mawaheb Kassir   B.S., Neurobiology, 2017
Honors: Excellence in Research, 2016-2017 (empirical thesis paper, private oral defense, public poster presentation of research findings)
              Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Research, May 2017
              Best Paper for Excellent Academic Writing in Science and Technology
                                                             (an Upper-Division Writing Award), April 2017
              Carol Becker McGaugh Award (for outstanding research as a junior), Summer 2016
Currently: pursuing Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), University of California, Riverside, expected 2022
 
Nur Mirza   B.S., Neurobiology, 2017
Honors: Excellence in Research, 2016-2017 (empirical thesis paper, private oral defense, public poster presentation of research findings)
              Best Poster Award (for research in neurobiology),
              West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference (WCBSURC), April 2017
              Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Fellowship, Summer 2016
 
Johns Hopkins University
Caitlin Hepps Keeney   B.A., Behavioral Biology, 2014
Honors: General (university-wide) Honors degree (cumulative GPA > 3.50)
              Departmental Honors degree (cumulative GPA > 3.50, public presentation of research findings)
Currently: pursuing Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), Cornell University, expected 2018

​
ACADEMIC AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
University of California, Irvine
2015 – 2017                             Mentor to undergraduate research assistants
                                                            Neurobiology and Behavior

Orange County, California
2017 – present                         Tutor in life sciences, mathematics, English, writing, and Spanish
                                                            Ball Tutoring LLC
2016 - 2017                                        Organizing Chair / Volunteer: Annual Brain Awareness Week
                                                            Isaac Sowers Middle School
2015                                        35th Annual District Science Fair Judge
2015                                        35th Annual Local Science Fair Judge

Johns Hopkins University
2014                                         Preparing Future Faculty Teaching Academy,
                                                             Summer Teaching Institute
2013                                         Invited Panelist: “Applying to Graduate School”
                                                             Omega Psi Cognitive Science Society
2012 – 2013                              Co-Chair: Colloquium Committee
                                                            Psychological and Brain Sciences
2011 – 2015                              Mentor to undergraduate research assistants
                                                            Psychological and Brain Sciences
2010 – 2015                              Class Representative: Department Steering Committee
                                                            Psychological and Brain Sciences

Baltimore, Maryland
2015                                         Grand Inquisitor: 17th Annual International Brain Bee
2011 – 2015                              Organizing Chair / Lecturer: Annual Brain Awareness Week
                                                            Baltimore Polytechnic High School
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