Ehringer Lab

Marissa A. Ehringer

Marissa A. Ehringer, Ph.D.
Department of Integrative Physiology
Institute for Behavioral Genetics
University of Colorado
Boulder, CO 80309-0447
phone: 303-492-1463 
fax: 303-492-8063 
e-mail: marissa.ehringer@colorado.edu

Research Interests

• Identification of genetic mechanisms that contribute to alcohol, tobacco, and substance use.
• Application of genomics and bioinformatics to the study of behavior genetics.
• Genetics of Substance Abuse Laboratory.
• Graduate training opportunities at the Institute for Behavioral Genetics.

Education

• 1991-1995, B.S. Biology, B.A. French, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.
• 1997-2001, Ph.D., Human Medical Genetics, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO.

Professional Experience

• 2001-2002, Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.
• 2002-2003, Research Associate, Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.
• 2003-2010, Assistant Professor, Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.
• 2010-present, Associate Professor, Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.
• 2003-present, Faculty Fellow, Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.

Honors and Awards

• 2000-2001 Graduate Student Training Fellowship, National Institute of Mental Health, Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.
• 2001-2002 Postdoctoral Training Fellowship, National Institute of Drug Abuse, Unversity of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO

Recent Publications

• Gallego X, Cox RJ, Funk E, Foster RA, Ehringer MA. Voluntary exercise decreases ethanol preference and consumption in C57BL/6J adolescent mice: Sex differences and hippocampal BDNF expression. Physiology and Behavior 138: 28-36, 2015.
• Darlington TM, McCarthy RD, Cox RJ, Ehringer MA. Mesolimbic transcriptional response to hedonic substitution of voluntary exercise and voluntary ethanol consumption.Behavioural Brain Research 259: 313-320, 2014.
• Melroy WE, Stephens SH, Sakai JT, Kamens HM, McQueen MB, Corley RP, Stallings MC, Hopfer CJ, Krauter KS, Brown SA, Hewitt JK, Ehringer MA. Examination of genetic variation in GABRA2 with conduct disorder and alcohol abuse and dependence in a longitudinal study. Behavior Genetics 44(4): 356-367, 2014.

Lab Photos