Postdoctoral Fellows, Research Associates, and Senior Research Associates
Tanya Button Ph.D., Kings College London, 2005. Examination of the relationship between conduct problems and substance use problems,and the interplay of genetic and environmental risks for both conduct problems and substance problems.
Junli Cao Ph.D. China Medical University, 2006. Neuroadaptations of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area underlying drug addiction and depression.
Nomita Chhabildas Ph.D., University of Denver, 2003. Neuropsychological and psychiatric correlates of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, as well as broader comorbidity issues in childhood psychopathology and learning disabilities.
Robin Corley Ph.D., University of Colorado, 1987. Longitudinal analysis of specific cognitive abilities and problem behaviors.
Jim Cypser Ph.D., University of Colorado, 2002. Role of chromatin remodeling (epigenetic changes such as histone modification) in aging and stress resistance, using the nematode C. elegans as model organism. Also the genetics of induced stress resistance and life extension (hormesis), coupled with the study of stress-responsive biomarkers that predict life span and/or the rate of aging.
Naomi Friedman Ph.D., University of Colorado, 2002. Working memory and executive functions, including individual differences and behavioral genetic analyses of executive functions such as inhibition.
Christine Garver-Apgar Ph.D., University of New Mexico, 2008. Evolution of genetic conflicts, genetic compatibility, and sexually
selected traits; implications of these sexual selection processes for matechoice, intelligence, and mental health; genetic relationships between fitness-related traits.
Sharon Grady Ph.D., University of Michigan, 1973. Function of nicotine in the central nervous system of mice, specifically, nicotine-stimulated release of neurotransmitters from synaptosomes.
Brett Haberstick Ph.D., University of Colorado, 2005. Genotypic variation for studies of complex traits. Focus on functional polymorphisms and their contribution to individual differences in substance use disorders (alcohol, tobacco) and other disinhibited behavioral problems. Of long-standing interest is the application of developmental approaches to examining the etiology of these disorders as well their stability and change across the life-span.
Christina Hewitt Ph.D., Institute of Psychiatry, University of London, 1984. Molecular genetic studies of human behaviors.
Nicole Hoft Ph.D., University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, 2004. Identification of genetic mechanisms contributing to alcohol abuse and smoking behaviors, particularly the role of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
Leah Leverich Ph.D., University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 2009. Dopaminergic modulation of hippocampal plasticity and excitatory neurotransmission.
Jeffrey Lessem Ph.D., University of Colorado, 1999. Research into the methodology for detecting quantitative trait loci; particularly in relation to substance abuse disorders and conduct disorders.
Christopher Link Ph.D., University of Massachusetts, 1981. Molecular genetics; modeling of neurodegenerative diseases using transgenic C. elegans.
Michael Marks Ph.D., University of Michigan, 1974. Genetic influences on molecular, biochemical, physiological, and behavioral factors mediating the responses to nicotine in mice.
Alexander Mendenhall Ph.D., University of North Texas 2008. Longitudinal studies examining late-life fertility in C. elegans. Characterization of stochastic variation in aging populations. Identification of genetic modulators of physiological variance in ageing populations of nematodes.
Sang-Kyu Park PhD. University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2006. Genetic analysis of dietary restriction-induced longevity in C. elegans.
Thomas Precht Ph.D., University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 2008.
Characterization of nicotinic receptors, specifically the alpha 5 subunit, function
under various treatment conditions and understanding the mechanisms of nicotinic
receptor neuroprotection after toxic insults mimicking neurodegenerative diseases.
Brad Rikke Ph.D., University of Texas, 1992. Genetic mapping and identification of genes underlying dietary restriction's ability to retard aging in mice.
Stephanie Schmitz Ph,D., University of Colorado, 1996. Genetic and environmental influences on the development of temperament, personality, and problem behavior; behavior genetics of psychopathology and health behaviors.
Sarah (Holly) Stephens Ph.D., University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Aurora, 2008. Molecular genetic studies with neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and
alcohol abuse and smoking behaviors.
Gary Stetler Ph.D., University of Utah, 1980. The application and development of high-throughput methods for the identification of genes involved in human behavior and learning.
Anne Tammimäki Ph.D., University of Helsinki, Finland, 2008. The use of mouse genetic models to study addiction-related phenotypes including conditioned place preference, self administration and oral self-selection
Juan Varela Ph.D., Brandeis University 2000. Electrophysiological andcomputational studies studies of synaptic and intrisinc modulation of plasticity by Dopamine and its effects on behavior in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.
Sally Wadsworth Ph.D., University of Colorado, 1994. Genetic and environmental influences on development of learning disabilities and academic achievement.
Susan Young Ph.D., University of Colorado, 1998. Genetic and environmental factors underlying the development of conduct disorder, ADHD and substance use problems; links between executive cognitive function and developmental psychopathology.
Cristian Zambrano Ph.D., University of Chile, 2007. Study of mechanisms involved in nicotine addiction in association with nicotinic receptor expression and function, using a model of drug self-administration in mice.
Joanna Zeiger Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2001. Genetic and environmental factors, particularly gene-environment interaction, that increase risk to common diseases
