Sari Izenwasser

Sari Izenwasser, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine. Her research focuses on understanding how stimulants, cannabinoids, nicotine, and opioids affect behavior and neurochemistry in adolescents, with an emphasis on age and sex differences in substance misuse responses. She has over 120 peer-reviewed publications and has been recognized with the Joseph Cochin Young Investigator Award (1999) and fellowship statuses in the College on Problems of Drug Dependence and the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.

Education & Training:

• B.A. in Psychology, Florida International University (1980)
• M.A. and Ph.D. in Experimental/Physiological Psychology, Boston University (1982, 1987)
• Postdoctoral Fellowships: Louisiana State University Medical School (1988), Uniformed Services University (1990)

Research Interests: Substance use disorders, psychiatric disorders, neurochemistry, and behavioral pharmacology in adolescents. Her work explores how early environmental factors and drug exposure influence neurodevelopmental trajectories.

Awards & Honors:

• Joseph Cochin Young Investigator Award (1999)
• Fellow, College on Problems of Drug Dependence
• Fellow, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology

Grants & Advising: While formal grants are not listed, her extensive publication record reflects sustained research funding. She has mentored numerous researchers through her roles in academic and federal institutions.

Labs & Collaborations: Formerly part of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Intramural Research Program, contributing to collaborative projects on addiction neurobiology and preclinical therapeutic development.