Stephen L. Boehm

Stephen L. Boehm is a Professor of Psychology at Indiana University serving as Executive Director of the IU Institute for Human Health and Wellbeing. He directs the NIH/NIAAA-funded Indiana Alcohol Research Center and IU Addictions Grand Challenge initiative, investigating neurobiological mechanisms of substance use disorders through translational mouse models.

His educational background includes:

• Postdoctoral Fellowship in Behavioral and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Texas at Austin (2005)
• Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University (2002)
• B.A. in Psychology, University of Northern Colorado (1996)

Research focuses on five interconnected domains: neurobiology of compulsive alcohol consumption, environmental determinants of drug use, adolescent edible cannabis effects, high-fat diet neurobehavioral impacts, and toxoplasmosis treatments. The Boehm Lab employs genetic mouse models, site-specific brain microinjections, and behavioral assays to study developmental and genetic influences on alcohol/THC sensitivity, with emphasis on binge drinking mechanisms, neurotransmitter systems, and age-dependent outcomes. Current work examines adolescent vulnerability to substance co-use and neuroadaptations from repeated exposure.

Publication analysis reveals consistent emphasis on genetic models (High-Alcohol Preferring mice), cannabinoid-alcohol interactions, and sex/age variables. Recent work increasingly incorporates adolescent exposure paradigms, edible THC formulations, and molecular techniques targeting specific brain regions like the nucleus accumbens and striatum, demonstrating translational relevance to human addiction pathways.

Dr. Boehm actively mentors five graduate students and a postdoctoral fellow while securing continuous NIAAA funding. His grant portfolio includes leadership roles in the Indiana Alcohol Research Center and IU Addictions Grand Challenge, supporting mechanistic studies on binge drinking, compulsive consumption, and neuropharmacological interventions.

• NIH/NIAAA Indiana Alcohol Research Center (Investigator)
• IU Addictions Grand Challenge (Funded Investigator)
• NIAAA R01 grants on developmental alcohol/THC sensitivity

The Boehm Lab provides structured research pathways for undergraduates through the Undergraduate Neuroscience Program and graduate students via the Addiction Neuroscience Graduate Program, emphasizing hands-on training in neuropharmacological techniques and behavioral analysis for substance use disorder research.