Florence Varodayan

Florence Varodayan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Binghamton University, affiliated with the Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center. Her research focuses on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying alcohol use disorder (AUD) and comorbid stress-related psychiatric diseases, particularly examining the role of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in regulating mood, motivation, and impulsivity. She investigates how alcohol and stress impact synapses and circuits in the mPFC, with an emphasis on identifying novel therapeutic targets for cognitive deficits associated with AUD.

Education: Post-Doctoral Fellowship at The Scripps Research Institute; PhD and MPhil in Neurobiology & Behavior from Columbia University; MSc in Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania; BA in Biochemistry and Biology from the University of Pennsylvania.

Research Interests include alcohol use disorder, stress, cognitive function, synaptic transmission, neuroimmune signaling, and sex differences. Her lab employs techniques such as slice electrophysiology, optogenetics, molecular biology, and behavioral testing to study these mechanisms.

Mentoring Philosophy: Varodayan emphasizes technical skills alongside conceptual understanding, fostering independence in students and promoting diversity in STEM. She supports career development through grant-writing, conference participation, and scientific communication.

Labs/Teams: The Varodayan Lab at Binghamton University, collaborating on projects like noradrenergic dysfunction in AUD, neuroimmune signaling in cognitive deficits, and synergistic effects of alcohol and stress on mPFC circuits. Future work aims to translate neurobiological findings into clinical treatments for AUD and comorbid anxiety/stress disorders.