Tara Sarkar

Graduate Student

Advisor

Research Area

Developmental and Evolutionary Psychology

Biography

Tara is a graduate student in the department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. She has 3 years of experience in clinical research in Neuroimmunology at Stanford University. She graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a Bachelor's degree in Cognitive Science. While in school, I did my honors thesis focusing on circadian rhythms and feeding behavior.

Research

My research interests lie at the intersection of evolutionary psychology, neuroimmunology, and endocrinology. I am fascinated by how hormonal fluctuations, especially involving cortisol, impact immune function and feeding behavior. By exploring the evolutionary roots of these physiological and behavioral responses, I want to better understand how stress-related hormones shape both individual health outcomes and broader patterns of human behavior. Currently, I work as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Stanford Neuroimmunology, where I am gaining hands-on experience in clinical research and mechanisms underlying immune and neurological interactions. Ultimately, I hope to translate this research into evidence-based policy that supports public health and mental well-being on a systemic level.

Research Keywords: endocrinology, immune system, cortisol, hormones