About
I am an Associate Professor at UT Austin, running a research lab studying the biological bases of motivated behavior, with a focus on drug addiction. We use a combination of models that are associated with increased addiction liability, such as that associated with age (i.e. adolescence), naturally-occurring within outbred populations (i.e. inter-individual differences), or induced by exposure to drugs and to stress. Throughout our studies, we use a systems-approach, combining complementary levels of analysis, which include molecular (protein expression), cellular (neuronal activity and synaptic transmission using in vivo and ex vivo electrophysiology), anatomical (optogenetics and functional neuroanatomy), and behavioral studies (self-administration). By combining these levels of analysis, it is possible to answer questions of behavioral relevance at multiple levels, in the hope of gaining more insight on the mechanisms and treatment strategies for addiction. Current projects in the lab examine: (i) age and sex-differences in the ability to withstand adversity to obtain rewards (ii) the role of an under-explored brain area (the lateral preoptic area) in reward seeking (iii) the interplay between stress and dopamine in mediating addiction liability. Additional projects are outside the addiction field and include: (iv) Simple and common errors in published data (e.g. Simpson’s paradox, error selecting data, use of wrong formulas to compute simple functions) (v) Exploring alternatives to restraints and seclusions in school and psychiatric settings, and the lack of evidence for the use of currently employed “de-escalation” techniques. In addition to research, I am passionate about teaching. My main teaching responsibility is "Analytical Skepticism". Analytical Skepticism is a course on how to think clearly about scientific claims and data. Students learn to spot common errors, biases, and misleading analyses; evaluate evidence; and communicate conclusions using data responsibly. The focus is on real examples from the scientific literature and hands-on practice rather than theory alone. For a brief description of the course see https://tinyurl.com/AnalyticalSkepticism or the first 10 minutes here https://tinyurl.com/C4R-2025
Work experience
Associate Professor at The University of Texas at Austin, Oct 2013 - Present · 12 yrs 9 mos, Austin, Texas Metropolitan Area
Associate Professor at The University of Texas at Austin, Oct 2013 - Present · 12 yrs 9 mos, Peer-reviewed research record: 58 publications, ~9,850 citations, h-index 42–43 (Google Scholar), mean RCR 3.08.
Associate Professor at The University of Texas at Austin, Oct 2013 - Present · 12 yrs 9 mos, On-site, Experience supervising postdoctoral fellows, PhD and master’s students, undergraduate researchers, medical trainees, and high school interns across neuroscience, pharmacology, and psychiatry programs.
Associate Professor at Rosalind Franklin University, Aug 2003 - Aug 2013 · 10 yrs 1 mo, North Chicago, IL, USA
Assistant Professor at INSERM, 2000 - 2003 · 3 yrs, Bordeaux, France
