Jesse R. Schank

Jesse R. Schank is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine. His research focuses on the neurocircuitry linking stress, neuropeptides, and drug-seeking behaviors, particularly examining the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) in the extended amygdala. His work investigates mechanisms underlying alcohol and opioid addiction, stress-induced relapse, and sex differences in drug sensitivity.

• Education:
  • PhD in Neuroscience, Emory University, 2008
  • BA in Psychology, University of Virginia, 2001
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 2008–2013
• Research Interests: Neuropharmacology of addiction, stress-induced relapse, neuropeptide signaling, and translational models of alcohol/opioid dependence.
• Lab: The Schank Lab explores NK1R neurocircuitry in drug-seeking behaviors, social defeat stress, and sex differences in addiction. Projects include studying oxycodone self-administration and stress-driven alcohol consumption.
• Publications: Over 15 peer-reviewed articles since 2006, primarily in Neuropsychopharmacology, Neuropharmacology, and Biological Psychiatry, with a focus on NK1R antagonists and stress mechanisms in addiction.

His studies bridge preclinical neuroscience and clinical implications, aiming to identify novel therapeutic targets for substance use disorders.