Courtney is a NIH D-SPAN Postdoctoral Scholar in the Marlin Lab whose research focuses on the impact of altered neurodevelopment on circuit formation and function. Her academic journey began at Queens College CUNY, where she earned a bachelor's degree in neuroscience-biology as a MARC Scholar working in Dr. Carolyn Pytte's lab.

Inspired by her personal experience as an older sibling to an autistic brother, Courtney pursued a PhD in Neuroscience at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Her doctoral research, conducted in Dr. Emanuel DiCicco-Bloom's lab and co-sponsored by Dr. Martin Blaser, investigated how early life antibiotic exposure affects the gut microbiome and hippocampal neurogenesis in the autism-associated 16p11.2 microdeletion mouse model.

Courtney is deeply committed to mentoring, science outreach, and promoting diversity and equity in science. Outside of her academic pursuits, she enjoys aerial and circus arts, hot yoga, hiking, and attending rock concerts.