Professional and Administrative Staff at the Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior Contribute to the Advancement of Knowledge

Greetings from Joanne Murray, Jessica Calvi, Doug Schultz, Karl Kuntzelman, Noah Clayton, Jessica Cronin, and Lynda Lynch! We interact with many of the Department of Psychology faculty and students as researchers and in our administrative roles. We would like to introduce ourselves.

Joanne Murray

Joanne Murray
Joanne Murray

Joanne Murray joined the Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior (CB3) in November 2015 as the MRI Technologist. She is responsible for operating the MRI scanner, safety training all faculty and students conducting research in the MRI Suite, and safety screening all research participants for entry to the MRI environment. Joanne has more than 25 years of MRI experience, including scanning research participants, critical neurological patients, children, and collegiate athletes with orthopedic injuries. She maintains American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) board certification in MRI, CT, and radiography.

Jessica Calvi

Jessica Calvi
Jessica Calvi

During most of this past year, Dr. Jessica Calvi was a Senior Research Associate with the Salivary Bioscience Laboratory (UNL SBL). Dr. Calvi has been recently promoted to Assistant Research Professor of Psychology. She earned her Ph.D. in Lifespan Developmental Psychology in 2014 at Oklahoma State University, with an emphasis in hormonal responses to social stressors. Dr. Calvi established the SBL as a Postdoctoral Research Scientist in July of 2014. She manages the day-to-day operations of the SBL as a core facility of CB3. She provides on-site consultation in research design, grant applications, and IRB procedures, training of researchers in saliva collection methods (including Spit Camp), and oversight of all saliva sample processing services provided as part of the core facility. Dr. Calvi’s time is shared between CB3 and the Nebraska Athletic Performance Laboratory (NAPL), where she works as a member of the performance team with student-athletes and Athletics staff.

Doug Schultz

Doug Schultz
Doug Schultz

Dr. Doug Schultz, Research Assistant Professor, is a new hire in CB3 as of June 2018. He received his Ph.D. in Neuroscience in 2014, followed by completing a postdoctoral fellowship prior to joining CB3. Dr. Schultz assists experienced fMRI researchers with project development, experimental design, and data analysis, as well as providing consultation and assistance in fMRI research design and analysis to researchers less experienced with fMRI. He offers this assistance both through formal workshop offerings to larger groups of interested core users, as well as through informal smaller group consultation and instruction with individual research teams. The expectation is that Dr. Schultz will help increase the efficiency of dissemination and grant writing among current users of the MRI core service, as well as facilitating the successful use of the MRI core by users newer to fMRI. When not at work, you can find Doug exploring new hiking trails, or trying out new recipes.

Karl Kuntzelman

Karl Kuntzelman
Karl Kuntzelman

Dr. Karl Kuntzelman joined CB3 in June 2017 as a Computer Programmer/ Data Analyst after receiving his Ph.D. in Psychology from Binghamton University in New York. Dr. Kuntzelman provides support to faculty and students whose research requires the development of new techniques and tools, both for stimulus presentation/data collection and analyzing the resulting datasets. He has experience with the complex data resulting from collection of fMRI in combination with some of the ancillary technology in the MRI Suite (EEG, eye tracking, and psychophysiology). Dr. Kuntzelman works both to increase efficiency of seasoned researchers by assisting them with programming and analysis and to expand the core user base by partnering with researchers less familiar with these technologies. He also hosts a weekly gathering in CB3 (open to all) for anyone who wants to get some code written in the company of others. His own research interests are eclectic, but often revolve around the transformation of information to evidence or the integration of information/distribution of attention across sensory modalities. Outside the office he can frequently be found at the Outdoor Adventure Center’s climbing wall, or on the patio at The Mill with a book. He’s the one in the heavy metal/horror movie shirt.

Noah Clayton

Noah Clayton
Noah Clayton

Noah Clayton, Specialized Technology Manager, oversees the specialized equipment and software that interfaces with the MRI scanner. He also works with users to assist in set-up of other ancillary equipment they wish to use in combination with the MRI. Mr. Clayton liaises with Information Technology Services (ITS) at UNL to ensure users can access their data via the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS), and he coordinates with the MRI Technologists to establish and implement regular computer back-ups. Noah assists in monitoring MRI system warnings after-hours and on weekends to ensure the MRI equipment is well-kept and the maintenance team is involved as needed.

Jessica Cronin

Jessica Cronin
Jessica Cronin

Jessica Cronin, Administrative Coordinator, has been with CB3 since August 2014. Her primary job duty is serving as assistant to the Director of the Center, but she also helps manage the day-to-day administrative operations of the Center, including purchasing, coordinating travel for Center personnel, assisting with expense reimbursements, processing monthly billing of the Core Facilities, and coordinating tours, colloquiums, and other special events. Jessica also manages building access, the Center website and the CB3 Facebook page. Outside of work, Jessica enjoys spending time with her husband and two girls.

Linda Lynch

Linda Lynch
Linda Lynch

Linda Lynch joined the CB3 staff in the fall of 2016 as the CB3 Office Assistant. She greets all visitors with a smile and helps direct them to their respective destination within CB3. Linda assists the MRI Technologist with scheduling MRI research participants and scheduling MRI safety training courses. She also assists with billing and the development of forms for the MRI Facility. Linda enjoys assisting with scheduling and organizing tours and various other meetings/functions held in CB3 and the interaction with the individuals that come into CB3. “I really enjoy being part of the wonderful CB3 “family” and working with such dedicated and professional individuals.”