Jennifer Anne Rinker

Jennifer Anne Rinker is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), College of Medicine. Her research focuses on the neurobiology of alcohol and stress interactions, with emphasis on neuroplasticity in CRF-expressing neurons within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and paraventricular thalamus (PVT).

• Key Research Areas: Addiction Neuroscience, Neurocircuitry, Neuroplasticity, Alcohol Use Disorder, Stress-Induced Drinking, Neurogenetics.

The Rinker Lab employs advanced techniques like fiber photometry and single-cell calcium imaging to study neural dynamics in cortical and deep brain structures. Recent work highlights the role of the paraventricular thalamo-accumbal circuit in preventing heroin relapse and the sex-dependent effects of melanocortin receptor signaling on ethanol consumption.

Publication Trends show a focus on CRF neuron modulation, neuroadaptive mechanisms in alcohol dependence, and opioid/thalamic circuits regulating reward-seeking behavior. Her studies span preclinical models, neurophysiology, and translational pharmacogenetic approaches.

Lab Techniques include

• Calcium imaging
• Optogenetics
• Behavioral assays
• Neurocircuit mapping

. She collaborates on projects involving neuroplasticity, potassium channels, and cortical-deep brain interactions.