Joshua Gross

Joshua Gross is an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Nutritional Sciences and Biobehavioral Health at the College of Health and Human Development, Pennsylvania State University. His research focuses on G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling, nutritional neuroscience, and preclinical drug discovery. He directs the Nutritional Neuropharmacology Lab investigating mechanisms linking food reward to metabolic dysregulation in obesity and diabetes.

Education: PhD in Cellular & Integrative Physiology from West Virginia University (2019), BS in Psychology from James Madison University (2014). Postdoctoral training at Duke University under Dr. Marc Caron.

Research interests include neuroendocrine physiology, gut hormone signaling, and drug development targeting eating disorders. His lab employs molecular pharmacology, genetically-engineered mice, and behavioral assays to study GPCR-dependent pathways in food reward systems.

Publications highlight work on ghrelin receptor mechanisms, biased GPCR signaling, and opioid pharmacology. Current work emphasizes translational approaches to dietary addiction and metabolic disease treatment.

Contact: jdg6119@psu.edu | Office: 219 Chandlee Lab, University Park, PA