Team | Audette Lab of Flexible Sensory Processing | Department of Psychological Sciences

Nicholas (Nick) has been interested in science from childhood when he confidently proclaimed he would be a marine biologist. His interests evolved and he received a B.S. in Biochemistry before discovering his passion for neuroscience. Nick received his Ph.D. in the lab of Dr. Alison Barth studying neural circuit structure and plasticity in the mouse whisker system. He then trained as a postdoc in the lab of Dr. David Schneider studying predictive processing in the mouse auditory system. While his research team does not technically study marine biology, it is worth noting that mice are excellent swimmers. Outside of the lab Nick enjoys athletics, music, and the outdoors. He had a long career in ultimate frisbee and once biked across the United States. Following a series of betrayals by his mortal shell, his hobbies now include cooking, jogging and bird photography.

Ian is a postdoctoral research associate in The Department of Psychological Sciences at UConn. He is mentored by Dr. Nicholas Audette and joined the Audette Lab of Flexible Sensory Processing in January 2026. Ian received his B.S. from Northeastern University in Behavioral Neuroscience and his Ph.D. from Brown University in Neuroscience. His dissertation and graduate work focused on neocortical inhibition and sensory and behavioral representation by PV interneurons in the somatosensory and visual cortices of mice.

Ian is currently studying sensory predictive processing in the neocortex and thalamus of behaving mice. His research assesses flexible and high-dimensional neural representations of sensory-motor behaviors, and he uses electrophysiology, optogenetics, and behavior to study these neural circuits involved in auditory processing. Ian also enjoys traveling, playing the guitar and piano, and spending time with family and friends.

Seychelle is a PhD student interested in sensory processing and neural circuits. She graduated in April 2024 with a B.S. in psychology and a minor in statistics from Brigham Young University—Idaho. Her undergraduate and post-baccalaureate research focused on the effects of fulvic acid on Parkinson’s in rats, as well as its effects on memory, attention, and mood in humans. Her current project in the lab is looking at how probability impacts the neural response to an expected sound in head-fixed mice. Seychelle’s long-term goal for her PhD is to study auditory processing in freely moving mice. Outside of the lab, she enjoys reading, traveling, and listening to music.

Claudia is a PhD student studying motor-sensory prediction learning in mice through freely-moving and head-fixed behavioral paradigms. A proud husky, she graduated from UConn in Spring 2025 with a B.S. in biology and minor in neuroscience. She worked in numerous laboratories as an undergrad, including the Behavioral Neuroscience Lab where she studied the effects of extinction learning in socially anxious individuals, the Kanadia Lab where she studied the impact of minor-intron containing genes on the genome, and yes, the Audette Lab. Her research interests expand to include the relationship between music and memory. In her free time, Claudia enjoys singing, playing guitar, going for runs, spending time with her friends, and exploring the outdoors.

Abigail is a Research Assistant in the Audette lab focusing on error recognition in familiar sound patterns. She graduated in May of 2025 with a BS in Animal Behavior and a minor in Computer Science from Bucknell University. As an undergrad, she worked in a botany lab, studying seed dispersal mechanisms of Australian Solanum, and a rat lab, researching effects of food insecurity in rats. Outside of the lab, Abigail spends her time rock climbing and hiking, reading sci-fi and fantasy books (highly recommend Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson), having allergic reactions to most animals (luckily not including mice), and being moderately annoyed that movies nowadays are just live action remakes of perfectly good films.

Zach is a recent graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he earned a B.S. in Biochemistry and Biophysics and an M.S. in Information Technology. During his studies, Zach gained hands-on experience using mouse models to investigate the effects of novel antimicrobial agents on bacterial infections. His interdisciplinary background combines a strong foundation in experimental biology with technical expertise in software development and data systems. In the lab, Zach contributes to the design and implementation of software solutions that enhance data collection, analysis, and experimental workflows. He hopes to pursue a career in the biotech industry, developing innovative healthcare technologies that improve patient outcomes. Outside the lab, Zach enjoys golfing with friends and going on hikes. Also Zach DOES NOT like olives!

Alba is a sophomore at UConn, Storrs pursuing a B.A. in Psychological Sciences and minoring in Neuroscience. Her interests in the brain and the functions of the nervous system inspired her to get involved in research through the Audette Lab in addition to the Salamone Lab. Her current research focuses on auditory processing in mice and their ability to detect errors in familiar sound patterns. In the future, Alba aims to get a PhD in Psychology and continue to work in a research lab. Outside of the lab, she enjoys playing instruments, singing, and tennis.

Geovanni is a third-year student majoring in Psychological Sciences with a minor in Neuroscience. As a first-generation college student, he’s passionate about understanding how the brain and behavior connect and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in behavioral neuroscience. Outside of academics, Geovanni enjoys basketball, gaming, fashion, and spending time with his family. He brings a mix of curiosity, creativity, and motivation to everything he does and fun fact he does not agree with anyone's food taste in the lab.

We're Recruiting!

Nicholas Audette

Postdoctoral Research Associates

Alexander Ian More

Graduate Students

Seychelle Rossberg

Claudia Mizerek

Research Assistants

Abigail Motter

Zach Fazzino

Undergraduate Researchers

Richard Zou

Giuseppe Cesare

Alba Puprriqi

Lab Mascots

Nimbus

Cirrus

Alumni

Ava L. Williams

Grace Wong

Geovanni Muriel