Genetics of Substance Use Disorders Laboratory

Student doing research in the Ehringer lab

Institute of Behavioral Genetics
phone: 303-492-1463
fax: 303-492-8063

Research Interests

  • Genetics of substance use disorders and related behaviors in humans and rodents.

Personnel

  • Director: Marissa A. Ehringer, Ph.D.
  • Graduate Students: Eamonn Duffy, Erika Mehrhoff, Myra Bower, Johnson Ajanaku, Luke Hendricks
  • Local Collaborators: Ryan Bachtell, Psychology & Neuroscience; Jerry Stitzel, Charles Hoeffer, Institute for Behavioral Genetics; Laura Saba, University of Colorado Medical School.
  • Recent photo of lab members after Eamonn's defense

    Alanna Mayberry, Johnson Ajanaku, Marissa Ehringer, Erika Mehrhoff, Eamonn Duff, Myra Bower, Winona Booher (former grad student)

Current Research Projects

  • Genetic mapping of oxycodone and related behaviors using inbred rat strains
  • Translational studies of human genes associated with alcohol and tobacco behaviors.
    • Identification of rare, novel SNPs.
    • In vitro functional characterization of human SNPs.
    • Behavioral testing of knock-in, CRISPR/Cas9, and inbred selected strains of mice.

Opportunities for Undergraduates

  • Our lab does not currently have any openings for undergraduate research assistants.
  • The requirements for undergraduate students who want a research experience in our laboratory are:
    • A major in IPHY, MCDB, EBIO, PSYCH.
    • Either have completed or be concurrently enrolled in IPHY 2800 Introduction to Statistics.
    • Enroll in Independent Study (IPHY 4860) for 8-10 hours/week for at least one semester.
    • Cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher.
  • Interested students should submit this application.