Gabriella Smith is a doctoral student in the FAU Neuroscience Graduate Program in the Blakely lab, pursuing research on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying a rare dopamine transporter mutation, DATVal599. This rare mutation was identified in humans who were diagnosed with ASD, Bipolar disorder, and ADHD, inspiring the lab to develop a DATVal599 knock-in mouse model. Her research aims to use both in vivo and in vitro approaches on this model to further advance pharmacological and behavioral therapies for disorders characterized by dysregulated dopamine homeostasis.