Edward NiehView profile
Assistant Professor
Edward Nieh, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Virginia, leading the Nieh Lab. His research focuses on systems neuroscience, particularly motivated behaviors such as feeding, social interaction, and novelty-seeking, and their disruption in disorders like drug addiction and eating disorders. The lab employs advanced techniques including optogenetics, virtual reality for rodents, and cellular-resolution imaging, emphasizing cutting-edge neuroscience methodologies. Research interests span biotechnology, computational biology, molecular pharmacology, and neuroscience. The lab investigates how behaviors are encoded by large neuronal populations and studies sex differences in these contexts. Recent work explores neural circuits underlying reward-seeking behaviors, dopamine signaling pathways, and the interplay between homeostasis and motivation. Key technical innovations include the development of open-source microscopy tools like TWINKLE and methodologies to correct calcium imaging artifacts. Collaborations span computational modeling and experimental neurophysiology. Scientific contributions include studies on thalamo-amygdala circuits, dopamine’s role in aversive signaling, and the neural basis of observational learning. The lab’s findings bridge basic neuroscience with translational applications in neuropsychiatric disorders. Edward Nieh’s work is supported by grants focusing on neuroimaging, drug addiction mechanisms, and novel behavioral paradigms. His interdisciplinary approach integrates molecular, circuit, and behavioral levels of analysis to understand complex brain functions.
