Tressa Pantalena

Tressa first became interested in studying human behavior in early childhood. Her introverted nature made it difficult to be outgoing and make friends. Always trying to answer the question “what makes us all different?”, she found a fascination with the brain and what drove individuals to follow the paths that they did.

Initially, Tressa planned on becoming a forensic psychologist, taking AP psychology in high school to prepare for her coursework. Upon entering the College of Arts and Sciences at Quinnipiac University, Tressa found herself more drawn to the anatomical basis of behavior and wellness, rather than the psychodynamic approach of study. A career in neuroscience research turned out most fitting for Tressa’s passions and interests.

Tressa will have spent 6 semesters in the Behavioral Neuroscience Lab at Quinnipiac upon her graduation in 2025, and 2 full-time summer fellowships as an undergraduate. She will be pursuing a PhD in neuroscience with the goal of studying disorders of the brain and nervous system including mood disorders, schizophrenia, depression, and other motivation-impacting disorders. She is extremely interested in the field of clinical and preclinical research, and aspires to work in drug discovery.​

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