Jay Hosking

Dr. Jay Hosking is a Lecturer in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia (UBC), specializing in behavioral neuroscience and decision-making. He teaches courses related to neuroscience and psychology, blending academic rigor with creative writing pursuits. His research focuses on cost/benefit decision-making, neuromodulators like dopamine, addiction, and rodent behavioral models. Hosking earned a BSc (Hons) in Neuroscience from the University of Toronto and a PhD in Neuroscience from UBC, followed by a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard University. He also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from UBC, authoring the novel Three Years with the Rat, published internationally.

Education:

• BSc (Hons) Neuroscience, University of Toronto (High Distinction)
• PhD Neuroscience, University of British Columbia
• Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Harvard University
• MFA Creative Writing, University of British Columbia

Research Interests: Hosking investigates decision-making processes in humans and rodents, particularly individual differences in effort-based choices and the neurobiological underpinnings of addiction. His work employs rodent models to explore dopamine’s role in motivation, impulsivity, and reward processing. He also examines how neuromodulators like nicotine influence cognitive effort and impulsivity.

Publications: His research appears in journals like Neuron, Cerebral Cortex, and Neuropsychopharmacology, focusing on topics such as psychopathy’s neural correlates, dopamine receptor effects, and pharmacological interventions in decision-making tasks.

Awards:

• Robert E. Knox Master Teaching Award (2020)

Teaching & Mentorship: While teaching courses like Introduction to Biological and Cognitive Psychology, he emphasizes translating complex concepts to students. He does not currently supervise graduate students but focuses on undergraduate education.

Creative Work: Beyond academia, Hosking’s literary contributions include fiction and nonfiction published in Walrus, Globe & Mail, and National Post. His novel explores themes of science and human connection through a neuroscientist’s lens.