Dr. Padilla-Coreano studies the neural dynamics and circuits underlying social dominance. By combining novel behavioral assays, wireless electrophysiology, optogenetics and machine learning, her research shows that a prefrontal-hypothalamic circuit encodes and modulates social dominance in mice.

Dr. Padilla-Coreano is the inaugural winner of the Henry Grass, M.D. Rising Stars in Neuroscience award. In addition, she was a L’Oreal for Women in Science Fellow, and won a BRAIN Initiative Pathway to Independence Award.