Susan Brasser

Susan Brasser is an Associate Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychology at San Diego State University (SDSU), part of the College of Sciences. She serves as a Graduate Advisor and focuses on neurobiological and health-related aspects of alcohol addiction. Her research investigates how alcohol consumption impacts cardiovascular health, cancer risk, bone density, and gene expression, using animal models like rats and mice. She holds a PhD from SUNY Binghamton (2001) and completed postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2002).

Her research interests include the neurobiology of alcohol addiction, ethanol's effects on health/disease risks, and sensory processing mechanisms underlying alcohol ingestion. Recent studies explore ethanol's role in lipid metabolism, gut microbiome changes, and cancer risk modulation. Key findings include ethanol's complex interactions with dietary factors and its differential effects across age and genetic backgrounds.

Publications span 2009–2024, with a focus on translational research linking molecular mechanisms to physiological outcomes. Collaborations with institutions like Johns Hopkins and SDSU labs underpin her work. No specific awards are listed, but she actively contributes to mentoring graduate students and guiding research initiatives within the department.

Her advising role supports student research in alcohol-related topics, though no mentored advisees are explicitly named. She is affiliated with SDSU's research labs and centers, contributing to interdisciplinary projects in neuroscience and behavioral health.