معرفی
Melloni Cook, Ph.D., is a Dunavant Professor and Chair of Research Initiatives in the Department of Psychology at the University of Memphis. She directs the Center for Applied Psychological Research and holds affiliations with the Behavioral Neuroscience program. Her academic roles include leadership in research strategy and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Dr. Cook earned a B.S. from Mary Washington College and a Ph.D. in Biobehavioral Health from Pennsylvania State University (1996), with dissertation work on region-specific monoamine responses to cocaine. Her research focuses on genetic and neurobiological mechanisms underlying anxiety, stress responses, and addiction-related behaviors using animal models and systems genetics approaches.
Key research themes include:
- Genetic basis of complex traits (e.g., stress-ethanol interactions)
- Neuropharmacology of fear circuits and dopamine signaling
- Gene network analysis in alcohol and cocaine use disorders
Her work combines molecular biology techniques with behavioral phenotyping, leveraging mouse models to identify candidate genes and molecular pathways. Notable contributions include discoveries about HSPA8 networks in stress responses and serotonin system architecture.
Dr. Cook has held prestigious awards including the Dunavant Professorship, recognizing her research excellence. Her lab actively investigates neuroendocrine mechanisms and epigenetic factors in mental health conditions through NIH-funded projects and collaborative initiatives.
