Education

Ph.D. (2018) University of Nebraska at Omaha, Neuroscience and Behavior
M.A. (2012) University of Nebraska at Omaha, Psychobiology
B.S. (2010) University of Wisconsin, River Falls, Psychology

Courses Taught at UNL (2019- Present):

• PSYC 181: Introduction to Psychology (enrollment 445)

• PSYC 181H: Honors Introduction to Psychology (enrollment 10)
• PSYC 189H: Honors Neuroscience of Zombies (enrollment 20)^
• PSYC 273: Brain and Behavior (enrollment 150)*^
• PSYC 368: Learning and Motivation (enrollment 20/150)*^+
• PSYC 456: Developmental Biopsychology (enrollment 50)*^
• PSYC 464: Psychoneuropharmacology (enrollment 40)*^
• PSYC 465: Behavioral Neuroscience (enrollment 35)
• PSYC 865: Behavioral Neuroscience, Graduate (enrollment 5)

*Taught as hybrid (partially online) during COVID-19 pandemic
^Taught fully online during COVID-19 pandemic
+Taught as both full semester and 5-week online summer intensive course

Previous Courses Taught (2012-2019):

• PSYC 101: Introduction to Psychology (2 sections, enrollment 100)
• PSYC 3140: Research Methods in Psychology (8 sections, enrollment 25)
• PSYC 4230: Behavioral Neuroscience (2 sections, enrollment 70)
• NEUR 1540: Introduction to Neuroscience II (1 section, enrollment 30)
• NEUR 4900: Neuropharmacology (2 sections, enrollment 20)
• NEUR 4900: Research Methods in Neuroscience (1 section, enrollment 20)
• NEUR 4200: Advanced Neuroscience Laboratory (1 section, enrollment 16)

Teaching Awards & Grants:

University Honors Innovative Teaching Award, UNL Center for Transformative Teaching (2024)

The Center for Transformative Teaching (CTT) and the University Honors Program value innovative teaching and celebrate faculty who are creative and effective in teaching and learning, and who actively promote Honors pedagogies and teaching expectations.

Teaching Academy Fellow, UNL College of Arts & Sciences (2023-26)

The Teaching Academy recognizes and rewards exceptional teachers as critical to the university's mission. Through creative and solution-focused discussion about essential issues in higher education, fellows promote concrete changes on campus and work to improve outcomes for both students and faculty.

College Distinguished Teaching Award (2023)

The College of Arts and Science’s Distinguished Teaching Award honors consistently excellent teaching.

Family & Friends Recognition Award, UNL Parents Association (2022, 2023)

The Family & Friends Recognition Awards recognizes faculty and staff who have made a significant difference in students' lives.

Peer Review of Teaching Project Fellowship, UNL (2020-21)

Year-long professional development program with an emphasis on documenting learning and pedagogy.

Nominated, Distinguished Faculty Award, UNL College of Arts & Sciences Honors Program (2020)

For rooting Honors students in Nebraska and readying them for the world.

Society for Neuroscience Trainee Professional Development Award (Nov 2018)

Competitively awarded travel grant providing travel and registration expenses at the national Society for Neuroscience annual conference to present research on outcomes and support for undergraduate research experiences.

Center for Faculty Excellence Program Assessment Mini-Grant, University of Nebraska at Omaha (2018-19)

Lead investigator on a successfully funded proposal to design and implement a programmatic assessment of student learning outcomes across the undergraduate neuroscience major.

Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Arts & Sciences (2016-17)

Award for faculty member with distinguished performance in the classroom and exceptional success in student education.

Research Interests:

Dr. Omelian has conducted research into best practices in classroom and programmatic assessment of student learning, community outreach, and student outcomes related to undergraduate research opportunities.

Dr. Omelian is also a strong advocate of sharing science with the public. She is the founder and director of NeuroWOW, an NSF-supported educational outreach program that has introduced thousands of Nebraska students and families to the exciting science of the brain.