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Alexandra Castillo-Ruiz is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Michigan State University. She earned her PhD in Psychology focusing on Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior, also from Michigan State University. Her areas of specialty include Behavioral Neuroscience, where she investigates the role of birth in brain and behavioral development. Her research posits that birth is a pivotal event in the life of placental mammals and can significantly orchestrate brain development. In her lab, she manipulates key events and milestones associated with birth using animal models, specifically mice. Current research projects explore how microbiota—the microorganisms that inhabit body surfaces—interact with birth methods (Cesarean vs. vaginal) to influence brain development. Castillo-Ruiz is committed to unraveling these complex interactions to better understand their implications for behavioral neuroscience.
Department of Psychology