Stephanie is a Ph.D. candidate supervised by Dr. Ashlyn Swift-Gallant. Her research investigates how maternal immune activation (MIA) and sex-specific biological factors shape neurodevelopment and risk for conditions like autism spectrum disorder. Using the Four Core Genotypes (FCG) mouse model and targeted androgen receptor overexpression transgenic models, she dissects the mechanisms underlying sex-specific vulnerabilities. Stephanie’s work integrates behavioural phenotyping with immune profiling across the maternal-fetal compartment, gut microbiota transplantation, and 16S rRNA gut microbiome sequencing to examine how early-life environments influence the brain. Ultimately, she aims to provide mechanistic insights that inform the development of targeted, sex-informed therapeutic strategies.