Marina R. Picciotto

Marina R. Picciotto is the Charles BG Murphy Professor in Psychiatry and Deputy Chair for Basic Science at Yale University, holding concurrent professorships in Neuroscience, Pharmacology, and the Child Study Center. Her research focuses on acetylcholine receptor function in brain circuits, with emphasis on addiction, depression, learning, and appetite regulation. Her interdisciplinary approach spans molecular genetics, electrophysiology, and behavioral studies.

• Awards: Andrew Carnegie Prize (2020), Presidential Early Career Award (2012), Waletzky Prize, and National Academy of Medicine membership
• Leadership: Past NIDA Scientific Council member, Society for Neuroscience Treasurer, and Society for Research on Nicotinic & Tobacco President
• Editorial Roles: Current Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Neuroscience

Her work has advanced understanding of cholinergic system abnormalities in mood disorders and nicotine addiction mechanisms, informing treatments for smoking cessation and psychiatric comorbidities. Recent studies explore ACh signaling in reward learning circuits using cutting-edge optical stimulation and neural activity tracking in rodent models.