Rachel Aune

Rachel Aune is the research program coordinator for the Hartley Lab. She has been involved in clinical research for the past eight years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her past research efforts have primarily been related to neurological diseases, including Huntington’s Disease, CADSIL, and Alzheimer’s Disease but she has also coordinated clinical trials in trauma and delirium. She graduated from Luther College with a degree in Psychology. Her research interests are equine-assisted therapy, emotions and the brain, the connection between the gut microbiome and the brain, and holistic interventions for mental illness. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering at a local therapeutic horseback riding facility, mentoring youth in the Madison community, the Madison farmer’s market, sailing, gardening, and watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy.