About
Dr. Darragh Devine is a Professor and Director of the Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience program at the University of Florida's Department of Psychology & Neuroscience. He specializes in the neurobiology of self-injurious behavior (SIB) and stress-related disorders. His research investigates the dopaminergic and neurochemical mechanisms underlying SIB in neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, using animal models such as the pemoline-induced self-biting rat. He also explores environmental and pharmacological interventions to mitigate these behaviors.
Dr. Devine earned his B.Sc. from Concordia University (1982), M.A. from Carleton University (1988), and Ph.D. from Concordia University’s Center for Studies in Behavioral Neurobiology (1993). He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan (1993–1998) before joining the University of Florida faculty in 1998.
His research interests include SIB etiology, stress physiology, and neurodevelopmental disorders. He has trained numerous graduate students and postdocs, emphasizing skills in behavioral neuroscience, neurochemistry, and molecular biology. Notable awards include two College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Teacher of the Year titles (2003, 2012) and the HHMI Distinguished Mentor Award (2012).
Current lab members include postdoctoral researchers Dr. Sergei Zolotukhin and Dr. Stacey Reynolds, as well as doctoral candidates like Amber Van Matre and Nathan Weinstock. His work is funded by grants from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, and autism-focused organizations.
