Dr. Costa grew up in the Brazilian Amazon, in the city of Belém. He obtained his BSc in Biological Sciences from the Federal University of Pará, in his hometown. He later received a Masters degree in Physiology from the Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, and a Doctoral degree from the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research and Goethe University, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Dr. Costa then joined the National Institute on Drug Abuse for his postdoc, where he worked on how dopamine signaling and orbitofrontal cortex activity shape latent learning and the construction of cognitive maps.

Dr. Costa has received several recognitions for his work, including a K99/R00 pathway to independence award from the NIDA/NIH, a BBRF NARSAD Young Investigator Award, and being selected as an Allen Institute Next Generation Leader. 

In 2024 Dr. Costa joined the University of Alabama Birmingham as an Assistant Professor with a primary appointment in the Department of Psychology (College of Arts and Sciences), and secondary appointments at the Department of Neurobiology (Heersink School of Medicine) and the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering (School of Engineering). 

Dr. McFerrin grew up in Pasadena, Maryland, before moving to Huntsville, Alabama as a teen with a life-long dedication to science. After high school he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from UAH, studying biochemistry and protein crystallography. Seeking an advanced degree, Mike found his true passion in neuroscience, ultimately earning his PhD from UAB studying normal astrocytes and volume regulation in malignant glioblastomas. Following a brief post-doc at UBC in Vancouver, British Colombia, he returned to UAB to work on projects ranging from Parkinson’s disease to age-related macular degeneration. Mike has enjoyed two-week trips to Japan and France, but usually enjoys cooking, puzzles, crafts, and sharing the occasional cheesecake with friends.

Dr. Rocha (him, his) grew up in the state of Alagoas (Northeast of Brazil), before moving to São Paulo, which is known for its vibrant city life. His fascination with neuroscience began in high school during a visit to a neuropharmacology laboratory at the Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL) in his hometown of Maceió. This early interest in sciences led him to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biology, followed by a specialization and a master’s degree in human anatomy. During his master’s studies, Igor developed a solid foundation in animal behavior and chronic pain injury models. His research skills were further enhanced throughout his PhD at the University of São Paulo, where he investigated the effects of low-level laser therapy (photobiomodulation) on diabetic peripheral neuropathy in rodent models. Igor’s scientific journey included training at renowned institutions. He spent time at the University of Oxford during his undergraduate research, then continued his research at University of Virginia and at University of Colorado at Boulder under the guidance of Dr. Linda Watkins, where he expanded his expertise in animal behavior, chronic pain models, stereotaxic surgery. Prior to joining the K. M. Costa lab, he completed a year of postdoctoral training at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. In addition to his academic endeavors, Igor enjoys the outdoors, including the mountains, cold weather, hiking, and rock climbing. He also loves ballet, cinema, trying food from a variety of culture and so much more. 

Remy is from Houma, Louisiana and graduated from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in Spanish. He is currently a working towards a PhD through UAB’s Behavioral Neuroscience program.

Hobbies: hiking, biking, tennis, reading, and watching movies

Adela is a native of Fort Myers, Florida and joined the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in 2020 to pursue her undergraduate studies. She successfully completed that phase of her academic journey, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience and a Master of Science in Biotechnology in 2023. Continuing her dedication to the field, Adela is currently pursuing a PhD in Neuroscience at UAB’s Graduate Biomedical Sciences program.

 Hobbies: Running, reading, & cooking 

Brian grew up as a US Air Force dependent in the US and Europe. He is pursuing a Masters degree in the Behavioral Neuoroscience program at UAB. He has a background in Computer Science and professional experience in software development.

Hobbies: anything that justifies learning a new tool

Aryona grew up in Hoover, Alabama. She is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in forensic science and African American studies. She is also a Resident Assistant (RA) in UAB's Student Housing & Residence Life.

Hobbies: reading, baking, and arts/crafts

Julia grew up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. They are currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice at the University of  Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She also works as a Resident Assistant (RA) with UAB's Student Housing & Residence Life.

Hobbies: Photography, drawing, and model building.

Kody is originally from Alabama. He is pursing a bachelor's degree in Neuroscience with a minor in Chemistry. He is also an Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's student in Multidisciplinary BioMedical Science concentrating in Neuroscience.  

Hobbies: Olympic Weightlifting , board riding( skateboarding and surfing), drawing/painting.

Eli is from Birmingham, Alabama. He is majoring in Neuroscience and pursuing a minor in bioinformatics. He is also a student in UAB's Early Medical School Acceptance Program (EMSAP).

Eli's hobbies include playing the piano, solving math puzzles, and gardening.