Alumni Spotlight: Mia Mantei

Mia Mantei graduated from Florida State University in May 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in behavioral neuroscience from the Program in Neuroscience, an interdisciplinary program that draws from the Department of Psychology and Department of Biological Science in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Biomedical Sciences in the College of Medicine. Mantei is currently a postgraduate associate conducting clinical research on Tourette’s Syndrome at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. Upon graduating from FSU, Mantei earned the Outstanding Senior Scholar distinction, which recognizes students who completed the University Honors and Honors in the Major programs while maintaining 3.9 GPA or higher. She plans to pursue a doctoral degree in psychology or neuroscience in the future.

Tell us a little about your background, where you’re from, and what brought you to FSU.

I’m from Lebanon, Ohio. I was initially intrigued by FSU’s unique behavioral neuroscience program and extensive undergraduate research opportunities. FSU was the first and only university I toured, and from the moment I stepped on campus, I knew it was where I belonged.

What inspired you to pursue a degree in behavioral neuroscience?

I’ve always been fascinated with the brain, especially how biological and chemical differences can provide insight into various psychiatric conditions like anxiety disorders, depression, schizophrenia and other conditions.

How did your time at FSU prepare you for professional success?

FSU’s resources helped me become a well-rounded professional. I immersed myself in FSU’s research programs and gained invaluable experience from the five labs I was a part of. My research journey began as a freshman in the Kids, Anxiety, and Treatment Lab led by former associate professor of psychology Alexandria Meyer. I was also a research assistant in the Cabell Lab, led by associate professor of education and Florida Center for Reading Research faculty member Sonia Cabell; the Anxiety and Behavioral Health Clinic, led by chair of the Department of Psychology and distinguished research professor Brad Schmidt; the Children’s Learning Clinic, led by associate professor of psychology Michael Kofler; and the Harmon Youth (Harmony) Lab, led by assistant professor of psychology Sherelle Harmon.

My lab experiences allowed me to hone my research interests by learning about different aspects of clinical research such as transcranial magnetic stimulation — a procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate brain cell nerves and improve depression symptoms — and electroencephalography, which measures electrical activity in the brain.

My extracurriculars included my sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma as well as clubs like Phi Beta Kappa and the Neuroscience Undergraduate Student Association. Additionally, I was part of philanthropies ranging from the National Alliance on Mental Illness to Dance Marathon to FSL LineDance. These non-research opportunities provided me with different but equally important skills that’ve helped me transition from a student to a professional.

Tell us about your current role at the Yale School of Medicine.

As a postgraduate associate, I conduct research alongside professor of radiology and biomedical imaging Michelle Hampson. Some of my responsibilities include running and examining scans from our functional MRI, or fMRI, that show what areas of the brain are active when performing tasks. Every day is different and exciting — I’m constantly learning.

Hampson’s current study, “Neurofeedback from the supplementary motor area for chronic tics and Tourette’s Syndrome,” investigates neurofeedback, a new therapy that monitors brain activity in people with Tourette’s Syndrome — a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary, repetitive movements and vocalizations known as tics. The study assists participants in recognizing patterns such as chronic tics, ultimately helping those with Tourette’s and similar tic disorders understand these behaviors through non-invasive treatments.

What do you want the public to know about the importance of your work?

Tourette’s and tic disorders are estimated to occur in more than one in 50 American school-aged children, with about 50 percent of those cases going undiagnosed. Genetic, environmental, and developmental factors play a part in the occurrence of Tourette’s and tic disorders, but root causes largely remain unknown.

My firsthand experience with Tourette’s has fueled a deep passion for furthering our understanding of the condition. Determining the causes of Tourette’s and tic disorders can allow for the development of better and more accessible treatments, which could be life changing for the large number of affected people.

Can you tell us about an impactful experience during your time at FSU?

Completing my Honors in the Major thesis, “A Longitudinal Examination of Obsessive Compulsive Symptom Severity as a Predictor of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Development,” was a huge reason why I decided to pursue a research career. I learned how to develop a project, troubleshoot issues, write scientifically, defend my research, and navigate the publication process, which were invaluable experiences. With the guidance of Dr. Schmidt and clinical psychology doctoral student Carter Bedford, I was able to find exciting results about the relationship between obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. I examined how people may use OCD behaviors to cope with trauma, which worsened trauma effects. My thesis was published by the Florida Undergraduate Research Journal in 2023.

Are there any faculty or staff members who inspired you?

I owe so much of my knowledge, professional development, and postgraduate success to FSU faculty and staff. In addition to the professors whose labs I worked in, I wouldn’t be where I am now without professor of psychology Jesse Cougle and former teaching faculty Mickey Langlais, both of whom took the time to sit on my thesis committee. FCRR project manager Marcy Wyatt and FCRR lab manager Ansley Kramer showed me that creating a supportive and encouraging workplace allows lab members to thrive. There were countless graduate students who assisted me, and I worked closest with Bedford, who helped me grow into the researcher I am today.

What are some upcoming goals or projects you’re working toward?

I’m working on a second research project investigating the functional brain mapping of the primary motor cortex in Parkinson’s disease.

What advice do you have for current students?

Take full advantage of FSU’s resources and opportunities. Learn from the staff and faculty who are experts in their fields, especially if it’s a field you may be interested in. There are so many different involvements, so try things out and step out of your comfort zone.