Our Team

Principal Investigator

Kurt Fraser

Kurt Fraser

Principal Investigator | CV

Kurt is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota. He received his undergraduate degree in Neuroscience at the University of Michigan where he trained with Dr. Shelly Flagel. He completed his Ph.D. in 2021 under the direction of Dr. Patricia Janak at Johns Hopkins University. He then pursued postdoctoral training as a BRAIN Initiative Fellow at the University of California Berkeley with Dr. Stephan Lammel. Outside of work Kurt is an avid watcher of the Real Housewives, an amateur weightlifter, and spends a lot of time with his dog Levi.

Research Staff
Graduate Students

If you are interested in pursuing your Ph.D. in the lab, we are recruiting for graduate students to start in the Fall of 2026.


 

Gabrielle Russell

Gabrielle Russell

Elle is a first-year PhD student in Psychology, specializing in cognitive and brain sciences. She earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology from Northern Michigan University in 2024. Through working with Dr. Josh Carlson and Dr. Amber LaCrosse, Elle developed a strong interest in reward processing, motivation, and behavior. Outside of research, she enjoys rock climbing, and traveling.

Undergraduate Students
Tommy DeGeus

Tommy DeGeus

Major: Neuroscience, Minor: Psychology
Class of 2027
Hometown: Bemidji, MN

UROP awardee and Directed Research

Sharlyn Donoza

Sharlyn Donoza

Major: Biology
Class of 2027
Hometown: Diamond Bar, CA

Honors student, MARC Fellow

Umay Pankratz

Umay Pankratz

Major: Psychology, B.S. 
Class of 2027
Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota

Honors student

Jasmine Raja

Jasmine Raja

Major: Neuroscience, Minor: Health Psychology
Class of 2028
Hometown: Blaine, MN

Dean’s Research Program

Gabriel Smith

Gabriel Smith 

Major: Psychology, Minor: Neuroscience
Class of 2027
Hometown: Springboro, OH

 

Liv Ye

Liv Ye

Major: Psychology, Computer Science
Class of 2027
Hometown: Jinhua, China

Honors student, UROP awardee

Alumni

Aaron Amen
Major: Psychology B.S
Class of 2027

Suha Ibrahim
Major: Human Physiology 
Class of 2027

Sundy Nguyen
Major: Psychology
Graduated Spring 2025

Anoma Yang
Major Psychology, Minor Social Justice
Graduated Spring 2025