Lori Knackstedt
Associate Professor
Areas of Interest/Research
I have a long-standing interest in studying the pathological changes in brain and behavior which occur in response to addictive drugs. For the past nine years, my work has focused on identifying neuroadaptations in the glutamate neurotransmitter system produced by chronic self-administration of addictive drugs such as nicotine, alcohol and cocaine. I then target these neuroadaptations with translational compounds to reduce drug-seeking. To that end, my research involves assessing brain changes in reward circuitry following self- administration of addictive drugs using western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and microdialysis.
I began my independent research career as a Research Assistant Professor at the Medical University of South Carolina in 2009. In Fall 2012, I began a tenure-track position in the Psychology Department at UF, where I now run the Neurobiology of Addiction Research Lab. I supervise three graduate students, one post-doctoral fellow and 7 undergraduates.
Background
Ph.D. 2005: Psychology; University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
Advisor: Aaron Ettenberg
Dissertation: Motivating Factors Underlying the Co-administration of Cocaine and Alcohol
B.S. 1999: Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA
Major: Biology
Magna cum laude
Contact Information
Email: knack@ufl.edu
Phone: (352) 273-2185
Office: 322 PSY
Office Hours
Tuesday 10:45-11:45
Office Mailing Address:
Psychology 114, 945 Center Dr. Gainesville, FL 32653