LAB
RESEARCH INTERESTS
The Kutlu Lab studies how the brain forms connections between events and stimuli in the environment and how these connections can go wrong in diseases. They use a mix of systems neuroscience, computational, and behavioral approaches to understand how complex behaviors are represented in the brain. The lab focuses on three main goals: Understanding how the brain responds to rewarding versus negative experiences; Figuring out how memories of rewards and negative events become persistent and harmful; and investigating how organisms learn by observing and interacting with others. Through this work, they aim to better understand how the brain controls behavior and how these processes relate to conditions such as anxiety, stress disorders, autism, and substance use disorders.
MEMBERSHIPS
- Pavlovian Society
- Society for Neuroscience
HONORS & AWARDS
- American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) Past Travel Award Scholarship – 2022
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Faculty Incentive Award – 2022
- The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation 2021
- Leading Research Achievement• American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) Travel Award – 2021
- The Pfeil Foundation Investigator (2020)
- Winter Conference for Brain Research (WCBR) Panel Travel Award – 2020
- Catecholamine Gordon Research Seminar – Selected for Oral Presentation (2019)
- Japan Neuroscience Society Travel Award – 2018 (Declined)
- Federation of European Neurosciences Societies Forum of Neuroscience Travel Award – 2018
- Society for Neuroscience, Trainee Professional Development Award – 2017
- Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Travel Award – 2017
- Duke University Graduate School Conference Travel Award – 2012
- Vertical Integration Program Graduate Fellow – Duke University, 2011
- Claire Hamilton Graduate Studies Conference Travel Award – 2010
- Fellowship for Vienna International Summer Uni./Scientific World Conceptions, 2010
- Duke University Graduate Fellowship, 2008-2013
- Superior Achievement Scholarship - Istanbul Bilgi University, 2003-2006