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Dr Laura Pritschet
Name:
Dr Laura Pritschet
Job title:
Postdoctoral Scholar
Place of work / study:
University of Pennsylvania
Area of Research:
Neuroscience / Neuroendocrinology / Women’s Health
How is your work funded:
National Institutes of Health
Tell us a little about yourself:
I am an NIH funded postdoctoral scholar at the University of Pennsylvania, where my research bridges neuroscience, endocrinology, and women’s health. I study how fluctuations in sex hormones shape the brain, cognition, and behaviour across the lifespan, with the goal of identifying endocrine drivers of women’s health and wellbeing.
In 2023, I earned my PhD in Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of California, Santa Barbara, under the mentorship of Emily Jacobs. My doctoral work combined cohort studies with innovative dense sampling approaches to capture dynamic hormonal influences on the brain. In my landmark “28andMe” study, I underwent daily MRI scans and blood draws across two menstrual cycles, generating an unprecedented dataset linking endocrine rhythms to brain network dynamics.
At Penn, I now lead the Maternal Brain Mapping Project, which aims to generate comprehensive brain charts of neuroanatomy across the perinatal period in large, diverse clinical populations. I also remain a fellow of the Ann S. Bowers Women’s Brain Health Initiative, where I contribute as a project lead for the Longitudinal Menopause Project.
Beyond my research, I am equally dedicated to advancing equality and inclusion in STEM through outreach and mentorship across campuses and within my communities. Through these efforts, I aim to help build a more representative scientific community, one in which broader perspectives drive stronger, more innovative science.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself:
I have an 80 lb chocolate Labrador named Ruby who we have trained to give human-like hugs 🙂
Why did you choose to work in dementia?
While I do not study dementia explicitly, I am very passionate about understanding how the brain changes over the menopause transition and exploring whether and how this may be a period of vulnerability (e.g., emergence of AD risk) for a subset of women.
What single piece of advise would you give to an early career researcher?
Challenge dogmas & do not be scared to reinvent the wheel if what was done before isn’t giving you what you are looking for
What book are you reading right now? Would you recommend it?
Most of the books I am reading these days are about raising babies, but the one I always recommend is Estrogen Matters by Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris. I encourage everyone, especially those in midlife, to read this!
Favourite film of all time?
Little Miss Sunshine
Favourite ways to unplug and unwind?
Take my dog on a walk and leave my phone behind!
What’s the best decision you ever made?
Moving to California to pursue my PhD with Dr. Emily Jacobs at UCSB. This solidified my love for all things women’s brain health.
What’s your favourite vacation spot?
Wherever you are vacationing with your best friends
Do you collect anything?
No
