Our Team
Dr. Nicole Bedford (she/her)
Dr. Bedford is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Zoology & Physiology at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. She received her B.Sc. in Marine Biology from the University of British Columbia and her Ph.D. in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology from Harvard University. Nicole was a Gordon Family Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Neurobiology at Harvard Medical School. She is broadly interested in the genes and circuits that shape behavioral diversity.
Rachel Fanelli (she/her)
Rachel grew up in Cheyenne, Wyoming. She received her A.S. in Biology from Laramie County Community College in 2013 and her B.S. in Biology from the University of Wyoming in 2016. She then went on to complete her M.Sc. in Biology from Queen's University in Canada in 2021. Rachel is a Lab Technician studying the effects of torpor on least chipmunk cognition (i.e., memory) and neuroanatomy. She also assists students collect and analyze data for their research projects and provides animal husbandry to the Bedford Lab mouse colony. Rachel is broadly interested in understanding why animals behave the way they do at a functional and mechanistic level. Rachel enjoys going for long walks with her three pups and husband, reading books from the local public library, spending time outdoors hiking, camping, and fishing, and fiddling around in R.
McKinzie Wade
McKinzie is from Monument, Colorado and is getting her undergraduate degree in Physiology with a minor in Neuroscience at UW. She is graduating in December of 2023 and is planning on becoming a physician assistant (PA) with a specialization in neurology. Working in the lab, she further developed her interest in the brain and completed a senior capstone research project regarding the underlying neural circuitry and behavior of social dominance hierarchies in male and female mice. In her spare time, she loves watching movies (especially Marvel) and keeping active by playing lacrosse, softball, and volleyball.
Ryan Pitesky
Ryan Pitesky is an undergraduate student from San Diego, CA, currently studying Physiology with a minor in Music at the University of Wyoming. He is enthusiastic about the biomedical field and actively engages in research to cultivate skills that will support his aspirations of becoming a Physician Assistant. Currently, Ryan's research focuses on Social Dominance Hierarchy in mice, which has piqued his interest as a newcomer to the field. Aside from his studies, he finds solace in playing the violin as part of the University's Symphony and Chamber Orchestras. Ryan also dedicates his time to shadowing and volunteering at the hospital. Otherwise, he bakes, reads, and spends quality time with friends. Through his dedication and interests, Ryan is determined to make a positive impact on the biomedical field and contribute to improving patient care.
Kaylynn Hoglin
Kaylynn was born and raised in Evanston, Wyoming. She is pursuing a dual major, expecting to graduate with her B.S. in Biology and Psychology in December 2023. Aspiring to further her education, she plans to attend graduate school specializing in the field of molecular neurobiology. She currently works in the Bedford lab as an assistant, mostly assisting Rachel with her chipmunk research, but also helping out around the lab as needed. She joined the lab in the interest of learning more about neuroscience and gaining experience with research in this field, including an understanding of mouse husbandry. In her free time, Kaylynn loves to travel and do anything outdoors (camping, hiking, mountain biking), as well as read or study topics that fascinate her.