Rate My Professor Elizabeth Bauer

Bauer's research centers on the neural mechanisms underlying emotional memory, employing classical fear conditioning to examine how the brain acquires, stores, and expresses fear memories. Her laboratory focuses on extended amygdala circuits, including the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) and basolateral amygdala, exploring their roles in anxiety-modulated fear learning, sex differences in threat responses, and serotonin influences. She has authored key publications such as Urien et al., 'Extended amygdala circuits are differentially activated by context fear conditioning in male and female rats' (Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 2021); Bauer, 'Serotonin in fear conditioning processes' (Behavioral Brain Research, 2015); Pelrine et al., '5-HT2C receptors in the BNST are necessary for the enhancement of fear learning by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors' (Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 2016); and a book chapter, 'Behavioral neuroscience of circuits involved in fear processing' in Neurobiology of PTSD (Oxford University Press, 2016). Bauer has received multiple NIH grants as principal investigator, including R15 awards for regulation of fear conditioning by subicular inputs to the BNST (2020–2023, $411,173), modulation by extended amygdala circuits (2016–2019, $410,845), and fear memory by CRF in the amygdala (2011–2014, $392,415). Honors include the Tow Associate Professorship for Distinguished Scholars (2021) and honorable mentions for the Emily Gregory Award (2015, 2018). She teaches molecular and cellular neuroscience courses and has served on committees including Petitions and Academic Standing (2015–2017), Honors (2014–2016), and the Center for Research on Women Advisory Board (2008–present).