About 1 — The Rinker Lab

Current Lab Members

Principal Investigator
Jen received her Bachelor of Science in Biology & Psychology from Western Michigan University in her hometown of Kalamazoo, MI. She went on to get her PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience at American University in Washington, DC with Dr. Tony Riley. Jen completed postdoctoral fellowships at UNC-Chapel Hill (Go Heels!) and here at MUSC, before transitioning to faculty and officially opening her lab in July 2021 in the Department of Neuroscience. She is also a member of the Charleston Alcohol Research Center.

Research Specialist I
Clemson University - '23
Jacob graduated from Clemson University with a major in Biology and joined the Rinker Lab after graduation as a Research Specialist. He plans to pursue a Doctorate in Pharmacy this fall.

PhD Candidate
Katie is from the Eastern Shore of Maryland and received her Bachelor of Science from Elizabethtown College in Central Pennsylvania. She’s always found the brain fascinating so double majoring in neuroscience and psychology was a no brainer for her in undergrad. Through the different research opportunities she’s had she realized a passion for research in the neurobiological mechanisms that are permissive of addiction, and she is especially interested in examining sex differences alcohol use disorder that might impact treatment strategies.

SURP Student
College of Charleston
Caroline is a rising junior and biology major at CofC. Caroline will be joining us this summer as part of the 2026 Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP).

PhD Candidate
Amy is originally from Myrtle Beach, SC, but graduated in 2021 from Washington and Lee University in Virginia. In undergrad, she worked on pesticide-induced neuronal degeneration in frog spines and is excited to continue pursuing neuroscience at MUSC. Her research is a collaborative effort between the Rinker and Otis labs focusing on the paraventricular thalamus (PVT) → nucleus accumbens (NAc) pathway and how chronic alcohol exposure alter synaptic inputs onto parvalbumin interneurons in the NAc to promote alcohol seeking.

Research Specialist I
College of Charleston - ‘24
Cynara was a Biology major at CofC and a fellow in the Dept. of Neuroscience’s distinguished MINDS Program. Cynara is spending her gap year in the Rinker Lab before pursuing a Doctorate in Medicine.

Undergraduate Research Assistant
College of Charleston
Sarah is a rising senior and biology and spanish major at CofC. Sarah will be completing her Bachelor’s Essay with us this coming year.

SURP Student
University of South Carolina
Marina is a rising senior at the University of South Carolina majoring in Neuroscience. Marina is joining us again this summer as part of theh 2026 Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP).

Research Specialist I
College of Charleston - ‘25
Luke graduated with a major Biology from CofC and is spending his gap year in the Rinker Lab before pursuing a Doctorate in Medicine.