Joanna Bellan, B.S.

Joanna Bellan is a current Research Assistant at the Transitions Lab at VUMC. She moved from Jackson, MS to Nashville, TN to attend Belmont University, where she received her B.S. in General Biology with a minor in Chemistry. During her undergraduate research, Joanna's project focused on building a genetic tree of a local TN streamside salamander, Ambystoma barbouri. This inspired an interest in the influence of genetics and the environment on behavior and health. 

After graduation, Joanna decided to remain in Nashville where she has worked in a clinical lab, a surgical pathology lab, and now in the Transitions psychology lab. In the future, Joanna hopes to pursue medical school and remain involved in the research community. She enjoys her current role of connecting families to research opportunities in developmental research.