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.
Curriculum Vitae
Google Scholar

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

Nikki Kwilosz

Nikki (‘24) is a Behavior Neuroscience major who, during summer 2022, conducted research in the lab. She is currently completing a thesis examining the anxiolytic effects of NMDAR antagonists.

Avinash Moses

Avinash (‘24) is a Molecular Neuroscience major who is helping conduct experiments in the lab. He hopes to attend med school in a few years.

Kelsey Morrison

Kelsey (‘24) is a Molecular Neuroscience major who conducted research during the summer of 2022. She is completing an Honors Thesis in the lab examining the amnestic effects of low-dose NMDAR antagonists.

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.