Stephen Abbott, Ph.D.
Principal investigator
Stephen received his Bachelor of Science (1st class Honours) from the University of Sydney and his PhD. from Macquarie University, both in Sydney, Australia. Following post-doctoral training at UVA and Harvard University, Stephen returned to UVA’s Department of Pharmacology as a member of faculty in 2017. Dr. Abbott’s research seeks to understand the organization of neural systems that underlie the homeostatic functions of the autonomic nervous system, with an emphasis on cardiovascular control.
– sba6t@virginia.edu
– https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1244-3637
Harsha Thakkalapally
Graduate Student
I am a graduate student in the Abbott lab and my study focuses on how inflammation is communicated to CNS. I’m especially interested in using publicly available datasets to generate sharp and testable hypotheses. My work sits at the crossroads of neuroscience, physiology, immunology and pharmacology. Outside the lab you’ll find me painting, hiking local trails, and fussing over my two cats.
– https://www.linkedin.com/in/harsha-thakkalapally-85005219/
– https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=jFwE5EwAAAAJ – https://orcid.org/0009-0008-3796-3819
Jerry Hou
Graduate Student
Jerry grew up in Potomac, Maryland and received his B.S. in Physiology and Neuroscience from the University of California, San Diego. His undergraduate research examined the role of the immediate early gene NPAS4 in modulating the endocannabinoid pathway and its contribution to spatial memory. He joined the Abbott Lab in 2025, where his work focuses on the integration of metabolic and ventilatory regulation within homeostatic circuits. Outside of his academic pursuits, Jerry enjoys playing pickleball, practicing boxing, and exploring the trails of Charlottesville.
Want to work with us?
The lab is always interested in hearing from UVA undergraduate and graduate students interested in training with our team. We would also love to hear from post-doctoral researchers around the world who are interested in joining our team. Please contact Dr. Abbott directly at sba6t@virginia.edu.
The Abbott Lab 