Jeffrey Lopez-Rojas

Jeffrey Lopez-Rojas is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM), with strong affiliations to the Neuroscience and Clinical Psychology programs. He is actively recruiting graduate students for the Clinical PhD, Neuroscience PhD, and Health MS programs, indicating an active research and mentoring role.

His research focuses on the neural basis of social cognition, particularly the role of the lateral entorhinal cortex and hippocampal CA2 circuit in social memory. Using advanced techniques such as optogenetics, pharmacogenetics, and in vivo neuronal recordings, his lab investigates how multisensory social signals are integrated and processed in the brain. His work has significant implications for understanding and treating neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders characterized by social deficits.

The recent publications highlight a consistent trajectory in neuroscience, particularly in hippocampal function, synaptic plasticity, ion channel regulation, and neural circuit dynamics. Key themes include social memory, dendritic excitability, calcium and potassium channel function, and structural plasticity in the dentate gyrus and hippocampus. His work bridges molecular, cellular, and systems-level neuroscience.

Dr. Lopez-Rojas has contributed to high-impact journals such as Neuron, Nature Communications, and EMBO Journal, demonstrating a strong publication record. While no specific scientific awards are listed in the provided text, his research output suggests recognition in the neuroscience community.

He advises graduate students in clinical, neuroscience, and health-related programs and likely secures external funding to support his experimental work, though specific grants are not mentioned. His lab employs a multidisciplinary approach, combining behavioral assays with cutting-edge neurophysiological and molecular tools, positioning his team at the forefront of systems neuroscience research.

His laboratory focuses on the entorhinal-hippocampal network, utilizing transgenic models, circuit tracing, and functional imaging to dissect the mechanisms of social memory and pattern separation. The team’s work contributes to broader efforts in understanding cognitive decline and social dysfunction in brain disorders.