Melissa Rosenkranz
Position title: Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry
Email: melissa.rosenkranz@wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 262-5050
Department:
Psychiatry
Education:
Ph.D. in Psychology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA
Postdoctoral in Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
Research Description:
My program of research is focused on investigating the biology of the bi–directional mind–brain–immune pathways through which emotion and inflammation are mutually influential. I use a wide range of tools for this purpose, including functional and structural neuroimaging (MRI and PET). Behavioral interventions, such as meditation, are an important aspect of this work, where the neural processing of stress and emotion are examined as modifiable targets for treatment of chronic inflammation. More recently, I have begun pursuing questions related to the impact of inflammation in the body on brain health and long–term cognitive function.
My areas of expertise include neuroscience, neuroimaging, psychology, psychoneuroimmune interactions, meditation, and its application as a behavioral intervention in clinical populations, as well as longitudinal study design and analysis. Throughout my career, my program of research has required the execution of complex, interdisciplinary, and collaborative experiments, including with other NTP trainers, including Barbara Bendlin, Doug Dean, Tyler Ulland, Brad Christian, and Richard Davidson.
Research Key Words:
Mind-Body Interactions, Psychoneuroimmunology, Inflammation, Neuroimaging