Aya Osman, PhD

Dr. Aya Osman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Her research focuses on the role of the endogenous opioid system in neuropsychiatric disorders, and elucidating mechanisms by which the resident bacteria of the gastrointestinal tract, collectivley known as the gut microbiome signal to influence brain and behavior. Her research program combines multidisciplinary approaches including the use of classical pharmacological techniques, genetic rodent models, 16S sequencing, metabolomics, transcriptomics and behavioral analysis to address research questions related to the neurobiology of addiction and autism spectrum disorder. 

Dr Osman completed her PhD training between the University of Surrey and Imperial College London in the UK. Her PhD was in neuropharmacology, investigating the development of brain opioid and oxytocin receptor systems in response to early life dietary manipulation in the form of weaning and post-weaning milk consumption in rodents.

Prior to embarking on her doctoral and subsequent postdoctoral training, Dr Osman completed a Master’s Degree in Toxicology where her research project focused on the role of adenosine and glutamate receptors in cocaine addiction. She then held a position as a desk-based toxicologist for the governmental body Public Health England.