Mark F. Yeckel

Mark F. Yeckel, Ph.D., serves as Professor of Medical Sciences at Quinnipiac University within the School of Medicine. His academic appointment is based in the Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences building (room 307L) with institutional mail directed to NH-MED. With over three decades of neuroscience research, Dr. Yeckel maintains an active laboratory investigating fundamental mechanisms of cognitive function and neural disorders.

His educational foundation includes:

• BA from University of California, San Diego
• PhD from University of Southern California

Dr. Yeckel's research program centers on ion channel physiology and calcium signaling dynamics in cortical and subcortical circuits. He employs electrophysiological, molecular, and behavioral approaches to investigate how KCNQ potassium channels, TRPC channels, and intracellular calcium waves regulate neuronal excitability in prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and nucleus accumbens. His work specifically addresses mechanisms underlying working memory deficits in stress conditions, schizophrenia-related cognitive impairments, and addiction pathways, with significant translational implications for neuropsychiatric disorders.

Analysis of his publication history reveals a cohesive research trajectory focused on the intersection of molecular neurobiology and cognitive neuroscience. His work consistently demonstrates how ion channel modulation (particularly SK, TRPC, and KCNQ channels) and calcium signaling cascades influence synaptic plasticity and information processing in neural circuits governing executive function and reward. A critical contribution includes identifying KCNQ channels as therapeutic targets for stress-induced working memory impairment, bridging basic science with potential clinical applications.

No scientific awards or honors were documented in the available materials.

Information regarding Dr. Yeckel's advisory roles for graduate students, research grant funding, or laboratory team composition was not provided in the source materials. His research appears to be conducted through independent investigation with extensive publication output spanning multiple neuroscience subdisciplines.