Ava Kay Mascarenhas joined the NIH in the Spring of 2024 as a recipient of the prestigious Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA), and is affiliated with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Ava holds a BS in Biology and Chemistry (summa cum laude) from Howard University, Washington DC and her research experience spans neurodevelopmental studies on the effects of the Zika Virus on hippocampal development in infant rhesus macaques, biomechanical analysis of fish scales, and genetic studies on nitrogen regulation in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Her current research at the NIAAA focuses on the neurological changes and behavioral implications of alcohol use disorder (AUD) in the brain, aiming to uncover how AUD affects patients' quality of life. By leveraging her background in neurobiology and her hands-on research experience, Ava is contributing to the NIAAA's mission to improve diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of alcohol-related conditions.

Ava is driven by the opportunity to integrate research, clinical practice, and advocacy, with the goal of advancing therapeutic strategies for those affected by AUD. She plans to pursue further specialized education in healthcare and medical sciences, aimed at contributing to meaningful advancements in biomedical research and impactful change in patient outcomes.