Shelly Flagel facts for kids

Shelly B. Flagel is an American scientist who studies the brain and behavior. She explores how our brains learn about rewards and why some people might struggle with impulse control. Dr. Flagel is a professor at the University of Michigan, working in the Department of Psychiatry.

Early Life and Education

Shelly B. Flagel grew up in Middletown, Ohio. She attended the University of Michigan (UM) for her first college degree. There, she studied biopsychology, which is about how biology affects our behavior. She completed a special research project with her mentor, Israel Liberzon.

After her first degree, Dr. Flagel continued her studies at UM. She earned a higher degree called a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in neuroscience. Her advisors, Delia M. Vazquez and Terry E. Robinson, guided her research. She looked into how early life experiences might affect how the brain learns and makes choices later on. After her PhD, she did more advanced research with Huda Akil.

Career and Brain Research

In 2011, Dr. Flagel started her own research lab at the University of Michigan. Today, she is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry. Her work focuses on understanding why people are different when it comes to addiction and impulse control. She studies how the brain learns about rewards and what motivates our actions.

Dr. Flagel's research has been featured in important publications. These include the Encyclopedia of Psychopharmacology, The Scientist Magazine, and Scientific American. She helps explain how addiction works in the brain in simple terms. Her work also explores if certain factors make people more likely to develop addiction. She also looks at how the brain controls willpower.

Personal Life

Shelly B. Flagel has two sons.