Francesco Leri

Dr. Francesco Leri is a full Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Guelph and serves as Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies in the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences. His research focuses on behavioral neuroscience, particularly the neuropharmacological mechanisms underlying addiction, reinforcement, and learning. He leads the Laboratory of Memory and Mental Health, studying drug and food addiction, conditioned reinforcers, and depression biomarkers. Current projects include the psychobiology of conditioned reinforcers and CAN-BIND's search for depression biomarkers.

Education: B.Sc. in Experimental Psychology (McGill University), M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology (McGill University), Postdoctoral Fellowship at Concordia University. He also holds a Certificate of Management Excellence from Harvard Business School.

Research interests span addiction neurobiology, opioid mechanisms, and the interface between nutrition and mental health. His lab employs animal models to investigate how chemical and natural rewards drive addictive behaviors, combining pharmacological, behavioral, and neurobiological approaches. Notable collaborations include the CAN-BIND initiative, where he oversees pre-clinical research.

Teaching and mentorship: Supervised 23 M.Sc. and 9 Ph.D. students, taught courses on learning, research methods, and neurochemistry. Currently accepts graduate and experiential learning students with strong academic records and aspirations in neuroscience or medicine.

Service roles: Canadian College of Neuropsychopharmacology (Past President), Canadian Armed Forces (Commissioned Officer), and advisor to the Canadian Council on Animal Care.