Michael Burman

Michael Burman is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Maine, affiliated with the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences. He holds roles as COBRE Academic Director and Project Leader. His education includes a B.A. from Carleton College (2001) and a Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience from the University of Minnesota (2006), followed by postdoctoral training at the University of Delaware (Newark).

Research Interests: Dr. Burman's lab focuses on the neurological substrates of fear, anxiety, and learning in rodents, particularly memory components in anxiety disorders like phobias and PTSD. Current work includes modeling pediatric anxiety. Techniques employed span

• Stereotaxic surgery
• Pharmacology
• Immunohistochemistry
• PCR

Grant Activity: He led a $404,000 NIH (NIMH) grant (2012–2015) assessing hippocampus-amygdala interactions in emotional learning. This work aligns with his broader focus on developmental neuroscience and translational models of anxiety.

Advising & Outreach: While no formal advisees are listed, Dr. Burman has contributed to educational outreach via K-12 neuroscience programs. His research bridges behavioral and molecular neuroscience, emphasizing early life experiences' impact on adult emotional processing.

Labs/Teams: His lab integrates behavioral analysis with neurobiological techniques, collaborating with institutions like the University of Delaware and the University of Minnesota. Key projects involve rodent models of PTSD and pediatric anxiety, leveraging pharmacological interventions and developmental approaches.