Forrest Toegel

Dr. Forrest Toegel is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological Science within the College of Arts and Sciences at Northern Michigan University (NMU). He directs the Toegel Laboratory, where he and his team investigate basic and applied questions in behavior analysis, with a strong emphasis on substance-use disorders, contingency-management interventions, and community health initiatives.

Education

• B.A. in Psychology, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire (2014)
• M.S. in Psychology (Behavior Analysis), West Virginia University (2014–2018)
• Ph.D. in Psychology (Behavior Analysis), West Virginia University (2014–2018)
• Post-doctoral Fellowship, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2019–2022)

Research Focus

Dr. Toegel’s research integrates experimental and applied behavior analysis to address socially significant problems such as substance abuse, relapse, and failures in self-control. His lab employs sophisticated operant methodologies, behavioral pharmacology, and community-based intervention designs to translate laboratory findings into scalable public-health solutions. Core themes include:

• Impulsivity and self-control in decision-making
• Behavioral mechanisms of addiction and relapse
• Contingency-management and incentive-based treatments
• Technology-enhanced training for therapists and caregivers
• Health-economic evaluations of behavioral interventions

Publication Trends

Across more than 30 peer-reviewed articles since 2017, Dr. Toegel’s scholarship demonstrates a clear trajectory from basic experimental work on reinforcement schedules and choice behavior to large-scale randomized clinical trials evaluating the cost-effectiveness of abstinence-contingent wage supplements and therapeutic workplace models. His 2024–2025 publications emphasize translational applications: driving-simulator paradigms for undergraduate pedagogy, anti-anxiety medication screening using rich-lean transitions, and comprehensive economic analyses of incentive programs for homeless populations with alcohol use disorder.

Scientific Recognition

While explicit awards are not enumerated in the provided text, Dr. Toegel’s consistent federal funding record (implied via NIH-supported trials) and leadership roles in multi-site studies underscore the high impact of his work on addiction science and behavioral economics.

Student Mentorship & Grants

Through the Toegel Laboratory, Dr. Toegel provides intensive, hands-on training to both undergraduate and graduate students in experimental design, data analysis, and dissemination. Students routinely co-author publications and present at national conferences such as ABAI and APA. External funding from NIH and other agencies supports student stipends, conference travel, and community-based research initiatives.

Laboratory & Team

The Toegel Laboratories occupy dedicated space in the Weston Science Building (WSTN 1119) at NMU. The facility houses operant chambers, computer-based training modules, and data-collection systems for both human and non-human research. A collaborative team of graduate research assistants, undergraduate honors students, and community partners ensures a vibrant, interdisciplinary research environment aimed at improving the human condition through the science of behavior.