Beau Alward

Beau Alward serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Houston's College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, where he directs the Social Neuroscience Lab and contributes to the Developmental, Cognitive, and Behavioral Neuroscience program.

His academic training includes:

• B.S. in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior from the University of California, Davis
• Ph.D. in Psychological and Brain Sciences from Johns Hopkins University

Dr. Alward's research centers on molecular and neural mechanisms of social behavior using the African cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni as a model system. Key interests include sex differences in brain and behavior, molecular genetics, neuroplasticity, and neuroendocrinology. His lab integrates CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing with behavioral paradigms to dissect hormonal control of social status and aggression.

Analysis of his 2023-2025 publications reveals a dominant focus on androgen receptor signaling in social behavior across cichlid fish and songbirds. His work demonstrates how genetic manipulation of steroid pathways affects aggression, mating, and social hierarchy through precise neural mechanisms, establishing causal links between molecular pathways and complex behaviors.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

Dr. Alward mentors graduate students in behavioral neuroscience and secures research funding for cutting-edge molecular and neuroimaging approaches. His work bridges evolutionary biology with mechanistic neuroendocrinology through innovative gene-editing applications in non-mammalian models.

The Social Neuroscience Lab cultivates mutual respect, team science, and creative problem-solving while advancing understanding of neuroendocrine control in social behavior through collaborations with Stanford University and other research institutions.