معرفی
Laurence Miller serves as Associate Professor with dual appointments in the Department of Psychological Sciences (Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences) and the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (Medical College of Georgia) at Augusta University. His interdisciplinary work bridges behavioral neuroscience and pharmacology, focusing on pain mechanisms and substance abuse research through rigorous animal model experimentation.
Dr. Miller earned his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of North Carolina in 2010 following an M.A. in Psychology from the same institution in 2005. His educational foundation in general psychology underpins his translational research approach.
His primary research investigates Behavioral Pharmacology, Pain, and Drug Abuse through sophisticated behavioral paradigms. He examines how analgesics (particularly opioids and NSAIDs) modulate pain-depressed behaviors like nesting and operant tasks, with significant contributions on sex differences, age-related variations, and molecular mechanisms involving NMDA receptors and monoamine systems. His work extends into pancreatic pathophysiology and wound healing, demonstrating methodological versatility across neuroscience and biomedical domains.
Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals consistent thematic focus on pain-behavior relationships, with increasing exploration of sex and age variables. His research spans three interconnected domains: (1) neuropharmacology of pain modulation, (2) molecular mechanisms in chronic disease models, and (3) behavioral assessment methodology. This tripartite approach maintains strong translational relevance to clinical pain management while advancing basic science understanding.
Dr. Miller's scientific recognition includes:
- Outstanding Scholarship Award from College of Science and Mathematics (2020)
- Faculty Excellence Award from Department of Psychological Sciences (2019)
- VCU Pharmacology Outstanding Postdoctoral Fellowship (2014)
- Cold Spring Harbor Cellular Biology of Addiction Scholarship (2012)
- NIDA Director's Travel Award (2007)
He actively mentors undergraduate researchers as Faculty Mentor for Augusta University's Undergraduate Research Journal: Arsenal and serves on the Center for Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Advisory Committee. His institutional service spans multiple committees including Faculty Development (serving as Chair 2017-2018), Student Research Travel, and Neuroscience Minor development. As an educator, he teaches core courses including Drugs & Behavior and Research Methods while maintaining active journal reviewing for Behavioral Pharmacology, Drug and Alcohol Dependence, and Scandinavian Journal of Pain.
