Margaret Gill

Margaret Gill serves as Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at North Central College, where she has been a faculty member since 2013. She teaches core courses in Neuroscience and Psychology while leading an active research program focused on neurobiological mechanisms of addiction.

Her educational background includes a B.A. from Luther College (2005), followed by an M.S. (2008) and Ph.D. in behavioral neuroscience from Kansas State University (2010). She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina before joining North Central College.

Dr. Gill's research examines how differential rearing environments (enriched vs. standard housing) influence neurobiological responses to addictive substances, particularly through self-administration models in rats. Her work spans behavioral neuroscience, drug addiction mechanisms, and the impact of early-life experiences on brain function. She actively promotes women in STEM through WAVES (Women Aspiring, Venturing, and Evolving Sciences), which she co-advises.

Analysis of her publications reveals consistent focus on neural circuitry underlying addiction behaviors, with emphasis on c-fos expression patterns, specific brain regions (lateral habenula, amygdala), and receptor mechanisms (mGluR5). Her research demonstrates how environmental enrichment modulates drug-seeking behaviors and neuroadaptations, often incorporating undergraduate researchers in experimental design and data analysis.

No scientific awards are documented in the provided information.

Dr. Gill mentors undergraduate students through hands-on laboratory research, teaching advanced techniques including stereotaxic surgery, behavioral analysis, and molecular assays. She actively supports students presenting at major conferences like Society for Neuroscience and National Conference on Undergraduate Research. While specific grant information isn't detailed, her sustained research output and student involvement suggest successful external funding.

She leads a neuroscience research team investigating rearing-induced neurobiological changes affecting drug behavior. Additionally, she advises the Neuroscience Club and Nu Rho Psi honor society, while co-advising WAVES to support women in science. Her lab serves as a training ground for undergraduate researchers pursuing careers in neuroscience and related fields.