1. Alexis Thompson ’27 Submits Research Paper

By Lily Caldwell
January 22, 2026

Washington and Lee University student Alexis Thompson '27 is preparing to submit a research paper titled "Resilience in the Face of Risk: A Systematic Review of Neuroimaging Studies in Individuals at Risk for Mood Disorders" in the Journal of Affective Disorders, a peer-reviewed medical journal. The paper will be submitted for review next month.

Thompson's research focuses on neuroimaging findings in individuals who are at elevated risk for mood disorders such as major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. Her work specifically looks at resilience in people who carry significant risk factors but do not develop a mood disorder. Thompson synthesized MRI studies to identify neurobiological patterns that support resilience despite vulnerability which can further inform preventive care and early intervention.

"Much of the mood disorder literature is deficit focused and emphasizes what goes wrong in the brain," said Thompson, a neuroscience major from Washington Township, New Jersey. "I was drawn to the idea that understanding why some people stay well may be just as informative. Working with collaborators from different institutions also pushed me to think critically about methodology, reproducibility and how research questions are framed across disciplines."

Thompson conducted her research with the Danish Institute for Study Abroad program (DIS) last summer. DIS is a non-profit study abroad foundation that offers semester, academic year and summer programs for upper-division undergraduate students from top North American colleges and universities. The program includes experiential learning and faculty-led study tours across Europe, offering students a study abroad experience that promotes both academic and personal growth.

"It was a life-changing experience that helped shape me into the person I want to be," said Thompson. "I became more outgoing, ambitious and socially confident, all while continuing to grow in an academic setting."

Thompson is a Bonner Scholar who hopes to use the program to address poverty and inequalities in health care. She is additionally a neuroscience research student with Nikki Lee, assistant professor of cognitive and behavioral science. Thompson is an orientation coordinator for the First-Year Orientation Committee, co-leader of the Street Medicine Institution Initiative, vice president of Chi Omega sorority and is involved in Remote Area Medicine, Pre-Health Club and Chemistry Club.

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