معرفی
Elizabeth Hammock is an Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Florida State University, where she leads the Hammock Lab. Her research focuses on understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of social and affective behaviors in developing and mature mammals using genetic, molecular, cellular, and behavioral techniques within an evolutionary framework. She is currently accepting new graduate students for Fall 2026 and mentors undergraduate researchers through the Directed Individual Study program.
Education:
- Emory University (2005)
Dr. Hammock's research program centers on developmental plasticity genes, their function within neural circuits, and the developmental trajectories that lead to typical and disordered social behavior and emotion regulation. The lab uses rodent model systems to dissect genes and circuits during post-natal development, with particular interest in how stress and social experience may alter typical developmental trajectories. Current research focuses on oxytocin and vasopressin in rodent models of experience-dependent developmental plasticity, investigating questions such as how developmentally transient neocortical oxytocin receptors shape experience-dependent development, the role of oxytocin receptors in the neonatal oronasal cavity, and whether peripheral biomarkers of mental illness/health exist during development.
Dr. Hammock's publication record demonstrates a sustained and impactful research trajectory spanning over two decades, with a clear evolution toward increasingly sophisticated investigations of oxytocin and vasopressin systems. Her recent work has made significant contributions to understanding assay methodologies for oxytocin measurement, neural circuit mechanisms underlying social behavior, and potential applications for understanding and treating neurodevelopmental disorders like autism. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges molecular neuroscience, behavioral analysis, and clinical implications.
Dr. Hammock actively mentors the next generation of neuroscientists, currently advising graduate students Alicia Gonzalez and Ryan Ochoa, along with additional neuroscience graduate students, postdocs, and affiliates. Her lab provides comprehensive research training that spans genetic, molecular, cellular, and behavioral techniques, preparing students for diverse career paths in academia, industry, and clinical settings.
The Hammock Lab at Florida State University represents a dynamic research environment focused on understanding how social brains are built. Researchers investigate causal variables such as individual differences in genetics and environment, and their effects on epigenetics, gene expression, brain circuits, and behavior. The lab's work on oxytocin and vasopressin receptors provides crucial insights into the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the interaction between life experience and genetic variation, with potential applications for developing more effective intervention strategies for individuals with atypical development.
