Elyse Vetter

Professional Background

I was born in Joplin, Missouri and lived in Pittsburg, Kansas until I was three. I grew up in Olympia, Washington and had my first formal experience in a laboratory with Dr. Norman Lewis at the Institute of Biological Chemistry at WSU, examining various aspects of phenylpropanoid metabolism in plants. While an undergraduate at Pepperdine University, I studied biology and worked in the Kats Behavioral Ecology Lab under the direction of Dr. Lee Kats. There we investigated the effects of climate change and invasive species on stream habitats and the behaviors of native amphibian species. During the summer of 2021, I had the opportunity to engage in the Summer Undergraduate MSTP Research Program at the University of Iowa. I was mentored by Dr. Hanna Stevens in the Psychiatry and Early Neurobiological Development Lab, studying the effects of prenatal stress on neurobiological outcomes in mice. Following my graduation, I worked as the Patient Care Coordinator for the Olympia Free Clinic.

I hope to combine my love of research and service to others while at KU. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, kayaking, and crafting.