Melissa Manners

Melissa Manners, Ph.D., serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences at Rowan University's College of Science & Mathematics, with additional teaching appointments at St. Joseph's University in Neuroscience graduate programs.

Education:

• BA in Biology (Minor in Psychology), Rutgers University (2007)
• PhD in Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine (2016)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Pennsylvania (2016-2019)

Research Focus: Dr. Manners investigates molecular mechanisms underlying chronic stress behavioral effects through neuroscience, molecular biology, and bioinformatics approaches. Her work examines gene expression alterations in disease states, drug treatment responses, and stress-induced neuroinflammation, with emphasis on sex differences and transgenerational effects. Key areas include:

• Stress neurobiology and resilience mechanisms
• Neuropharmacology of depression and opioids
• Molecular pathways in neurological disorders
• Epigenetic regulation in pain and stress

Publication Trends: Recent work (2022-2025) reveals strong focus on sex-specific stress responses, gut microbiome-opioid interactions, and neuroinflammatory mechanisms using rodent models. Her research bridges molecular neuroscience with translational applications for depression and addiction treatment.

Scientific Awards:

No awards or fellowships were documented in source materials.

Mentorship: Dr. Manners actively trains undergraduate and graduate students, evidenced by co-authorships with Elias, A.Y. Zhang, A.G. White, M.J.Pyle, J.K. Brynildsen, M. Schechter, X Liu, D.Eacret, and N.L. Yohn. She teaches core neuroscience courses including Cellular & Molecular Neuroscience, Neurobiology of Stress, and Brain Behavior and Disease across both institutions.

Research Infrastructure:

Source materials did not specify laboratory facilities or research team compositions.