Background

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Leah Reznikov attended Iowa State University as an undergraduate and obtained her B.S. in Biology in 2002.  Between the years of 2004 and 2008, she attended the University of South Carolina School of Medicine where she earned her doctorate in Biomedical Sciences.  Her doctoral work in the laboratories of Drs. Lawrence Reagan and Jim Fadel focused on the neurochemical and neuroanatomical correlates of stress.  Her observations contributed to a paradigm shift away from a monoamine hypothesis of depression towards a neuroplasticity hypothesis focused on glutamate.  She was a Postdoctoral Scholar in the laboratory of Dr. Michael Welsh, HHMI, from the years of 2008-2016, where she became an expert in airway biology. She developed her own research niche by merging the fields of neuroscience and airway biology.  By doing so, she earned an NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence award that traveled with her to the University of Florida where she is currently faculty. She is PI on several extramural and intramural grants.  Her teaching responsibilities include Head Lecturer & Course Coordinator for Veterinary Pharmacology. She is a Scientific Advisor for the Cure Sanfilippo Foundation, Editorial Board member of several journals, and participates in multiple mentoring programs to enhance diversity in science. Dr. Reznikov believes strongly in giving people opportunities to realize their potential and succeed.