William Falls

William Falls is Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Vermont. He holds a Ph.D. from Yale University (1993), an M.S. from Yale (1989), and a B.A. from Bates College (1987). His research focuses on the neural mechanisms underlying fear and anxiety, combining behavioral neuroscience, genetics, and pharmacology to study stress responses, exercise effects, and neuroendocrine pathways. Key areas include the role of neurotransmitters like PACAP and 5-HT2C receptors in anxiety modulation, and the impact of voluntary exercise on memory and fear reduction. His work integrates rodent behavioral models with molecular techniques to explore brain circuits like the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) and amygdala.

• Education:
• Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Yale University, 1993
• M.S. in Neuroscience, Yale University, 1989
• B.A. in Biology, Bates College, 1987

Research interests emphasize the interplay between fear/anxiety behaviors and environmental factors such as exercise and chronic stress. Studies investigate how stress alters anxiety responses, the neurobiological basis of anxiolytic effects from exercise, and molecular mechanisms regulating fear memory. His lab employs cutting-edge techniques including optogenetics, metabolic mapping, and pharmacological interventions to dissect neural circuits involved in emotional regulation.

Over 30 years of publications highlight consistent focus on BNST and PACAP signaling, with recent work exploring GSK3β phosphorylation and microRNA pathways in fear persistence. His findings bridge basic neuroscience with translational implications for anxiety disorders and stress-related mental health.

Grants and advising details are not explicitly listed in the provided text. His lab collaborates across disciplines to advance understanding of stress adaptation and brain plasticity.