Meet Fellow APA Member Allyson Cole Strauss
Photo of Allyson Cole Strauss
By Gerlind Kiupel, Communication Committee Member
- What is your job title? Research Associate III
- How long have you been at MSU? Since 2010
- Have you been a member of the APA the whole time? Member since 2018.
- What department do you work in, and can you tell me a little bit about what you do? I work in the Department of Translational Neuroscience as a research lab technician. My lab studies Parkinson’s Disease. We model Parkinson’s disease in rats and look at mechanisms of the disease and also possible interventions.
- What brought you to your job at MSU? My whole department moved together to Grand Rapids from the University of Cincinnati in 2010. The School of Human Medicine was being moved to Grand Rapids and we were one of the first research departments in the medical school.
- What do you enjoy most about working at MSU? I love the people I work with; I love having an interesting job that allows me to learn new things every day. I love the beautiful new building that I get to work in here in Grand Rapids!
- What do you like to do when you are not at work? I love to garden and work on my house, and I love to travel to visit my children.
- In high school I was known for being a fun party girl!
- People would be surprised to know I am skilled at designing and planting gardens and putting in watering systems.
- I am a stereotypical single cat lady. I have a small chunky grey cat named Turbo, and a giant black cat named Pluto.
- I like music of many genres, but my absolute favorite is a singer from Cape Verde named Cesaria Evora. I also love Latin music.
- My favorite area restaurant is anything with tacos.
- My hobbies include gardening and art projects.
- My favorite junk food is popcorn.