The lab is awarded our first R01!

The lab was recently awarded an NIH Research Project Grant Program (R01) to study the neural mechanisms of compulsive alcohol use. The project is entitled "Glutamatergic basal forebrain neurons in aversion-resistant drinking.” Aversion-resistant drinking is a model of compulsive alcohol use, in which alcohol exposure makes rodents less sensitive to the addition of bitter quinine to their alcohol solutions (they keep drinking even when you make the alcohol really bitter!). Our proposal focused on glutamate neurons in the ventral pallidum, lateral hypothalamus, and the lateral preoptic area, which are known to respond to aversive stimuli. Our experiments will examine how alcohol exposure changes the activity patterns of these neurons, and whether these alcohol-induced changes contribute to aversion-resistant drinking.

We are looking for new team members to help us with this and other projects! We currently have job postings listed for new research technicians (“Researcher 1"s at UMN) and a new postdoctoral fellow. To apply for the research technician opening go to https://humanresources.umn.edu/content/find-job…… -- click external and then enter job code 339305. To apply for the postdoc position please enter code 339306. Please see our “Join the Lab” page for more information.