Mitchell Roitman

Mitchell Roitman is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Illinois Chicago, leading the Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on the neural mechanisms underlying adaptive and maladaptive motivated behaviors, particularly the role of the mesolimbic dopamine system in feeding, drug-taking, and reward-related learning. Dr. Roitman employs advanced techniques such as optogenetics and viral-based circuit manipulations to investigate how the nucleus accumbens integrates signals related to physiological state (e.g., hunger, thirst) and learned associations.

Education

• PhD, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
• BA, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Research Interests
Dr. Roitman’s work explores how dopamine signaling encodes reward and aversion, with particular attention to how homeostatic cues modulate behavior. Key areas include:

• Pharmacological modulation (e.g., GLP-1 receptor agonists) of dopamine signaling
• Neural basis of overeating and drug addiction
• Role of mesolimbic circuitry in adaptive decision-making
• Zebrafish and rodent models for studying neuropharmacology

Lab & Collaborations
As director of the Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience, Dr. Roitman oversees a team using cutting-edge tools to study dopamine’s role in motivation. His work intersects with clinical implications for obesity and addiction, collaborating with institutions like the National Institute on Drug Abuse.