Zoe McElligott

Zoe McElligott, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Pharmacology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. She is a member of the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, where her research investigates neural circuits underlying psychiatric illnesses such as anxiety disorders, depression, and substance abuse. Her lab employs techniques including electrophysiology, voltammetry, optogenetics, and behavioral assays to study plasticity in affective disorders.

Research Focus: Dr. McElligott’s work explores neurotensin-expressing neurons in the amygdala related to alcohol phenotypes and norepinephrine modulation in substance abuse/PTSD models. She maintains active global collaborations.

Publications: Her recent articles (2020-2024) emphasize neuropharmacology, addiction mechanisms, and translational neuroscience, with themes in opioid receptors, neurotensin pathways, and sex-specific neuroadaptations.