Gabriela Lopez is a PhD Candidate in Northwestern University's Interdepartmental Neuroscience (NUIN) Program in Chicago, IL. She received a B.A. in Behavioral Neuroscience from Connecticut College and worked for 2 years as a research technician at Weill Cornell Medical College before starting graduate school. Currently, Gabriela is part of the Lerner Lab where she studies adaptations of the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway during chronic pain and their possible influence on opioid misuse. As a first-generation Afro-Latina from The Bronx, Gabriela is passionate about helping BIPOC students be informed about resources and opportunities in higher education. When she’s not in the lab, Gabriela enjoys crocheting, watching Parks and Recreation, and trying out any recipe she can find on Google and the Food Network. ​