Alison Roland

Alison Roland is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, affiliated with the School of Medicine and the Department of Psychiatry. She is based at the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, where her research investigates the neural mechanisms of alcohol use disorder, particularly how stress and affective dysregulation contribute to heavy alcohol consumption.

Her work integrates molecular, surgical, and pharmacological approaches in mice, including adeno-associated virus (AAV) manipulations, fiber photometry, immunohistochemistry, and whole-brain imaging. She has led studies identifying the cortical amygdala as a key hub for alcohol-related behaviors and is exploring amygdalar subnuclei and neuropeptide communication in ongoing projects.

Analysis of her publications reveals a focus on neuroscience, alcohol neurobiology, and stress-related neurocircuitry over 14 years, with recent work expanding into brain network dynamics and therapeutic molecular targets. Earlier studies addressed reproductive neuroendocrinology, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and metabolic programming.

Alison Roland mentors undergraduate and graduate students in the Kash Lab, emphasizing interdisciplinary training in neurobiology and addiction research.