Austen Casey became interested in the chemistry and pharmacology of drug action while at Warren Wilson College, where he obtained a B.S. in Chemistry: concentration in Biochemistry. He went on to earn a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry at Northeastern University, where he researched the molecular pharmacology of novel 2-aminotetralin ligands targeting serotonin G protein-coupled receptors for neuropsychiatric disorders. Austen is now a postdoc in the Heifets lab researching how psychedelic drugs impact brain activity and behavior in rodents. He aims to integrate his training in chemistry, molecular pharmacology, and neuroscience into drug discovery programs focused on novel antidepressant and antipsychotic medications.