Nora Lee Brown is a Kenyon College Class of 2028 student studying Neuroscience.

Research interests: I'm broadly interested in how environmental exposures, particularly endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), affect the brain, reproductive development, and subsequent behavior. I'm specifically interested in the interactions between the nervous and endocrine systems, and how these systems influence sex-specific behavior and neurodevelopment.

Previous research experience: During the 2025-2026 academic year, I conducted research in the Rudolph Lab at Kenyon College, a neuroendocrinology lab studying how environmental exposures to endocrine-disrupting chemicals affect nervous system and endocrine development and function in rodents. During summer 2026, I continued my work with the Rudolph Lab through the Kenyon Summer Science Scholars program, investigating the effects of conventional (DEHP) and alternative (DEHCH) plasticizers on neuroendocrine and reproductive outcomes in female rats.

How I got started: I got started in research by emailing a professor to learn more about the neuroscience major. During a meeting, I expressed my interest in joining a lab in pursuit of my long-term goal of attending graduate school for neuroscience. She invited me to join her lab, where I began working on an older student's ongoing project and learning neuroendocrinology techniques. This experience sparked my interest in how environmental factors influence the brain, behavior, and endocrine system, and I hope to continue developing my research and data-analysis skills through new projects.

Looking for: Summer research programs

Skills / methods: I have skills in animal handling, behavioral assays, tissue collection and dissection, microscopy, hormone assays (ELISA), data analysis (R, Excel), scientific writing, scientific literature reviews, and poster presentation. I am also interested in building skills in additional behavioral neuroscience techniques, quantitative data analysis, molecular methods, and expanding my statistical analysis abilities.

Open to being contacted: Yes

Preferred contact: noraleebrown@gmail.com

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