People
Michael T. Stefanik, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience
Born in Adams, Massachusetts, Michael received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from Middlebury College in Vermont.
He went on to receive his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the Medical University of South Carolina, under the direction of Dr. Peter Kalivas. His dissertation research focused on characterizing the neurocircuitry underlying relapse to cocaine seeking, using an inhibitory optogenetic approach. The goal of this work was to examine the role of various reward-related neural structures during reinstated drug seeking and to examine temporally-dependent functional and structural changes in the brain that result from such behaviors.
Michael then went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship at the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in the lab of Dr. Marina Wolf. His work, supported by an individual postdoctoral NRSA award, focused on understanding the role that protein translation plays in the maintenance of long-term pathological synaptic adaptations that underlie the incubation of cocaine craving. It sought to characterize the mechanisms regulating translation in nucleus accumbens medium spiny neurons under basal conditions, and then examined adaptations in these mechanisms following extended cocaine withdrawal.
As the resident molecular neuroscientist on staff at North Central College, his lab’s current work looks at molecular, cellular, and circuit-level changes that contribute to oxycodone craving and relapse.
Outside of lab, Michael enjoys traveling, cooking, tending to his garden, and running as far as he can.
Interested in joining the Stefanik Lab? Submit an application here.
NOTE: Applications are only being accepted for undergraduate student researchers.
Dr. Stefanik is always looking for motivated students to join his lab. The research team consists of 100% undergraduate student researchers who design, collect, and analyze all data. Because his work integrates many techniques ranging from behavioral analyses to molecular biology and protein biochemistry, undergraduate students with diverse interests are encouraged to contact him at mtstefanik@noctrl.edu and fill out the application so that he can get an idea of your interests and goals.
Meet our research team
Lukasz Teper
Lukasz (‘25) is a Behavior Neuroscience major who, during summer 2024, conducted research in the lab. Lukasz is currently completing a thesis examining the role of hippocampal subregions in the incubation of oxycodone craving.
Natalie Falco
Natalie (‘26) is a Molecular Neuroscience major who is helping conduct experiments in the lab. She hopes to attend grad school in a few years.
Ari Watts
Ari (‘26) is a Molecular Neuroscience major who conducted research during the summer of 2024.
Future Student
Future Student
Future Student
Because his research integrates many techniques ranging from behavioral analyses to molecular biology and protein biochemistry, students with diverse interests are encouraged to contact him at mtstefanik@noctrl.edu.
Stefanik Lab t-shirt design 2021
Itzel completing some histology
Josh slicing brains
Jack and Megan making catheters
Ben pipetting directly into the transfer box
FUN poster sessions 2019
Ben presents at SURC 2019
FUN poster session 2019
Megan and Ally, Summer 2021
Jack and Adrian, Summer 2021
Ollie and his bag collection 2019
Ben and Alexa at the FUN conference 2019
Stefanik Lab Thesis Students 2021
Alexa presents at SURC 2019
Thesis students 2020-2021
Drs. Kelley, Gill, and Stefanik
Ashley and Jacob, Summer 2019
Ben and Alexa, Summer 2019
Former lab members
Student names
What did they do after leaving the lab?
Kasie Conness
Forensic Neuropsychology Psy.D. Student at Adler University
Bridget O’Brien
Neuroscience M.S. student at
Loyola University Chicago
Carlos Santamaria
Neuroscience Ph.D. student at
Mayo Clinic
Ben Wong
Medical Student at Vanderbilt University
Max Farson
Medical student at Florida International University
Alexa Zimbelman
Neuroscience Ph.D. student at
Univeristy of Iowa
Austin Wheatley
Podiatry student at the Dr. William M. School College of Podiatric Medicine
Claire Klaisner
MSN student at
Rush University
Anne Mastores
Molecular Science Technologist at Northwestern Medicine
Abby Schwarz
Neuroscience Ph.D. student at
Univeristy of Arizona
Kaylin Walsh
Summer research volunteer, 2019
Steven Abalos
Neuropsychometrist at
Thompson Memory & Attention
Frank Pignone
Pharmacy Student at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy
Ashley Suslowicz
Clinical Psychology Psy.D. student at Adler University
Jordan Nowlin
Research technician at Harvard/Massachusetts General
Jack Bastable
MBA student at Whitworth University
Abigail Quinn
Preparing for graduate school application process
Megan Vogel
Physician’s Assistant student at North Central College
Jacob Greenberg
Ph.D. Student at Rosalind Franklin School of Medicine and Science
Itzel Soriano
Laboratory Technician
Alya Khan
Behavioral Health Technician at Westside Children’s Therapy
Maria Zarate
Laboratory Technician
Joshua House
Neuroscience Ph.D. student at the Medical College of Wisconsin
Allysha Donnelly
D.O. student at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Kelsey Morrison
Applying to PA schools soon!
Juri Hoda
Ph.D. student in neuroscience at the University of West Virginia
Maggie Sim
Neuroscience Ph.D. student at Northwestern University
Nikki Kwilosz
Applying to PA schools soon!