Stephanie Borgland

Stephanie Borgland is a Professor at the University of Calgary and a member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute. Her research integrates cellular physiology, pharmacology, and behavioral neuroscience to explore the neurobiological underpinnings of addiction, obesity, and motivational disorders. She leads a laboratory that uses brain slice electrophysiology, optogenetics, and immunohistochemistry to study synaptic plasticity and neuropeptide signaling in dopaminergic circuits.

Research Interests:

• Neuropeptide modulation of synaptic plasticity in reward circuits
• Dopamine signaling in the ventral tegmental area (VTA)
• Obesity and compulsive eating behavior
• Drug addiction and reward processing
• Neuroadaptations following chronic drug exposure

Her recent work has focused on how cannabis exposure during development affects metabolism and behavior, how orexin and dynorphin modulate dopamine neurons, and how diet-induced obesity alters decision-making and reward circuits. Her studies span from molecular mechanisms to behavioral outcomes, often incorporating sex differences and developmental perspectives.

Contact & Support:

• Email: s.borgland@ucalgary.ca
• Office: HSC2107, University of Calgary
• Phone: 403-220-6967
• Administrative Assistant: Dolma Dejikhangsar (dolma.dejikhangsar@ucalgary.ca)

She maintains an active publication record with over 100 peer-reviewed articles indexed in PubMed and Google Scholar, reflecting her leadership in translational neuroscience research.