People

Postdoctoral Fellows, Research Associates, and Senior Research Associates

Beth Bennett Ph.D., University of Colorado, 1986. Molecular identification of genes underlying initial sensitivity to alcohol and alcohol preference.

Rebecca Betjemann Ph.D. University of Denver, 2005. Component processes of listening and reading comprehension, and how they are impacted in children with learning disabilities.

Barbara Bowers Ph.D., University of Colorado, 1990. Evaluation of the role of protein kinase C in sensitivity to ehtanol and development of ethanol tolerance.

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.

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. Discovery and characterization of biomarkers of aging, e.g., physiological or molecular characteristics that predict individual subsequent life span (in the nematode C. elegans). Also the demographic patterns of mortality displayed by long-lived mutants, and the relationship between stress resistance and the rate of aging.

Chris Downing Ph.D., State University of New York at Albany, 2001. Classical and molecular genetic methods, such as QTL analysis, congenic and transgenic mice, and gene expression techniques to identify and evaluate genes mediating drug-related phenotypes.

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.

Heather Gelhorn Ph.D. University of Colorado, 2005. Identification of optimal phenotypes for QTL studies of adolescent antisocial behavior and drug abuse.

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. My research aims to understand genotypic variation for studies of complex traits. My recent work has focused 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.

Wail Hassan Ph.D., The University of Southern Mississippi, 2004. Gene expression profiling of Caenorhabditis elegans worms expressing amyloid beta peptide (the main constituent of the senile plaques of Alzheimer's disease).

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.

Nate W. Kahn Ph.D., University of Denver, 1999. Molecular genetics of stress resistance and aging, using transgenic C. elegans for analysis of loci and molecular mechanisms involved in stress responses and longevity.

Mike Lee Ph.D., University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, 2004. Investigation of nicotinic receptors in the regulation of acoustic startle and prepulse inhibition in null-mutant mice.

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.

Maria L. Florez-McClure Ph.D., University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 2004. Investigating the role of autophagy in neurodegenerative diseases, especially Alzheimer’s disease, using C. elegans as a model organism.

Sharon Mexal Ph.D., University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, 2005. Elucidation of the molecular biology underlying the behavioral and physiological actions of nicotine. Investigation of the role of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in modulating the effects of nicotine.

Junji Mitsushita M.D., Ph.D., Shinshu University School of Medicine, 2004. General mechanism of longevity by using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model animal. Especially, the relationship between oxidative stress and longevity from a view of genetic and/or epigenetic regulation.

Shane Rea Ph.D., University of Queensland, 2000. Demographics of aging in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans- Identification of long-lived individuals in genetically homogeneous populations.

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.

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.

David Timberlake Ph.D., University of California, San Diego, 2003. Investigations of heritability of tobacco use and associations between nicotine dependence and candidate genes.

Sally Wadsworth Ph.D., University of Colorado, 1994. Genetic and environmental influences on development of learning disabilities and academic achievement.

Paul Whiteaker Ph.D., University of Bath, U.K., 1996. Molecular basis of nicotine's central effects, using a combined biochemical, receptor binding, and gene null mutation approach.

Deqing Wu Ph.D., Peking University, 1995. Statistical and genetic analysis on aging in C. elegans.

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.

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