Dr. McMurray’s research interests focus on understanding the neurobiology of comorbid neuropsychiatric disorders, such as alcohol use disorders, panic disorder, and PTSD, with the goal of more effectively treating and diagnosing these disorders. Dr. McMurray received a BA in Anthropology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She then completed her doctoral work with Dr. Abraham Palmer at the University of Chicago where she investigated the role of the gene Glo1 in models of alcohol use disorders, anxiety, and depression, and evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of targeting GLO1 using small molecule inhibitors. Dr. McMurray then completed a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Renu Sah at the University of Cincinnati where she received a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship from NIMH to investigate neurocircuitry underlying panic and PTSD vulnerability. She also received a K99/R00 Career Transition Award from NIAAA to investigate acid sensing associated mechanisms in alcohol use disorders and comorbid panic. Her ongoing research investigates shared vulnerability factors underlying comorbid stress and fear-associated disorders like alcohol use disorders, panic disorder and PTSD. This work will identify neuroimmune mechanisms and neurocircuitry underlying these disorders with the goal of targeting them for treatment or diagnosis.