Trained as an electrophysiologist in the Turrigiano lab during her PhD at Brandeis University, USA, she studied homeostatic regulation of synaptic receptors by activity in cortical brain circuits. Following this, she pursued postdoctoral studies in the Häusser lab at UCL, UK, where she uncovered and characterized a novel early form of activity in the developing cerebellum. At McGill, Alanna contributes to teaching in several Neurobiology courses at both the Undergraduate and Graduate level, including a popular hands-on electrophysiology course for Undergraduate students.