Principal Investigator: Marco Venniro

Marco received a Ph.D. in pharmacology from the University of Palermo in 2012. He was then accepted into the NIH Graduate Partnership Program. Following a 2-year fellowship at the National Institute on Drug Abuse Marco received his Ph.D. in translational biomedicine from the University of Verona in 2016. He completed his postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Dr. Yavin Shaham in 2020. He joined the University of Maryland School of Medicine as an assistant professor in the Department of Neurobiology in 2021. 

Marco is interested in behavior and translational research with a focus on the social component of neuropsychiatric disorders. He is particularly interested in understanding how alternative nondrug rewards can be used to control and treat drug addiction with a focus on social reward. 


Graduate Student: Kimberly Papastrat

Kim joined Venniro Lab at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 2021, initially as a Laboratory Research Assistant and then as a Graduate Student. After receiving her undergraduate degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2016, Kim joined the laboratory of Dr. Linda Spear at Binghamton University. She remained there from 2016 through 2020 contributing to ethanol-focused behavioral neuroscience research.

Kim’s research interests are based on the underlying neural circuitry and molecular mechanisms regulating drug addiction regarding different substances of abuse. Her focus in the Venniro Lab will involve exploring the role of sensory system on social behavior and incubation of drug craving leading to relapse.


Graduate Student: Cody Lis

Cody joined the Program in Neuroscience at the University of Maryland School of Medicine as a graduate student in 2020. He received his undergraduate degree in Molecular biology and Biochemistry from Illinois State University in 2014. Following his undergraduate degree, he pursued his interest in behavioral neuroscience working with the Integrative Avian Biology lab at Illinois State developing fast-scan cyclic voltammetry methodologies in the European Starling. 

Cody is very interested in understanding the psychopharmacological underpinnings of drug relapse and the neuroprotective effects of pro-social behaviors. He is particularly interested in developing a scientific toolbox for in-vivo measurements of neuronal activity. He joined the Venniro lab as a graduate student in 2021.


Graduate Student: Sissi Zhengyi Huang

Sissi joined the Program in Neuroscience at the University of Maryland School of Medicine as a graduate student in 2022 and the Venniro Lab in 2023 as a PhD student. She received her undergraduate degree in psychology from UCLA and master's degree in experimental psychology from the University of Chicago under the mentorship of Dr. Harriet de Wit. After graduating, she joined the laboratory of Dr. Emma Childs at University of Illinois Chicago where she researched sex differences in drug effects. 

Sissi is very interested in translational research, and is hoping to use her human behavioral pharmacology background to investigate individual differences in susceptibility to addiction. 


Graduate Student: Amanda Pacheco-Spiewak

Amanda joined the Program in Neuroscience at the University of Maryland School of Medicine as a PhD student in 2022 after receiving her BA in Psychology from Florida International University in 2019. After graduation, she went on to work at the University of Miami where she studied the analgesic efficacy of distinct cannabis components for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

Amanda joined the Venniro Lab in 2023 and is interested in studying aberrant neural circuitry underlying psychiatric disorders. She is particularly interested in exploring the neuroprotective effects of social behavior and psychedelics in disorders such as PTSD and addiction.


Visiting Graduate Student: Antonino Casile

Antonino joined the doctoral program in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Biotechnology at the University of Camerino in 2021. He received his master's degree in Evolution of Animal and Human Behavior from the University of Turin in 2019. Between 2019 and 2021, Antonino joined Prof. Giancarlo Panzica's lab at the University of Turin, where he studied changes in brain development induced by endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Currently, Antonino is studying the brain changes induced by Gaming Disorder under the supervision of Prof. Carlo Cifani. 

Antonino joined the Venniro Lab in 2024 as a Visiting Graduate student because is interested in exploring the neuroprotective effects of social behavior on different brain regions in different types of addictions.


Lab Research Assistant: Naru Kang

Naru joined the Venniro lab at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 2024. She received her BS in Biological Sciences and Psychology from UMCP in 2023, during which she worked under the mentorship of Dr. Donna Calu and Dr. Matthew Roesch. Her past neuroscience research focuses on the neural mechanisms that drive learning, executive control, and decision-making, as well as factors that may perturb these circuits such as addiction.

Naru is interested in the neuroscience and psychology behind substance use disorder, and hopes to pursue a career in medicine in her future.


Lab Helper: Bronte Feulner

Bronte joined the Venniro lab as a volunteer in the fall of 2023. She’s a high school senior looking to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biology and eventually go on to medical school. She interned in Dr. Geoff Schoenbaum’s lab at NIDA before joining the Venniro lab to further explore her interest in addiction neuroscience. 

 

Bronte is interested in gaining laboratory experience and skills pertinent to biomedical research, which she hopes to continue in college. 


Volunteer: Samuel Yang

Sam joined the Venniro Lab as a volunteer in the February of 2024. He's a freshman at Johns Hopkins University pursuing a bachelor's degree in biology and is either interested in going to medical school or veterinary school. He joined the Venniro lab to experience research in addiction neuroscience, and is interested in gaining laboratory experience pertaining to animal research to explore his interest in pursuing a career in veterinarian medicine. 


Philosopher-in-Residence: Hanna Pickard (BA Hons, BPhil, DPhil)

Hanna is Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and Bioethics at Johns Hopkins University, cross-appointed to the William H. Miller III Department of Philosophy and the Berman Institute of Bioethics, and with a secondary appointment to the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Prior to joining Johns Hopkins, she held a Chair in Philosophy of Psychology at the University of Birmingham UK and was a Visiting Research Scholar to Princeton University's Program in Cognitive Science as well as a Fellow of All Souls College at the University of Oxford. She is also a Volunteer Faculty Professor at University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Department Neurobiology, where she collaborates with the Venniro Lab.

In addition to her academic work, Hanna worked for a decade as an Assistant Team Therapist at the Oxford Health NHS Trust Oxfordshire Complex Needs Service, a specialist service for people with personality disorders and complex needs. Her interest in addiction grew out of this clinical experience and aims to integrate social, psychological, and philosophical perspectives with animal models and neuroscience. She is currently writing a book about addiction under contract with Princeton University Press.


Come and join our team!

Please send us your CV if you have a passion for addiction neuroscience and social behavior!

We are committed to diversity and encourage minorities and women especially to apply.


Alumni

Rosanna Marino - Postdoctoral Fellow

Jonathan Garcia - MiNDS Scholar

Askia Matin Jr. - CURE Research Summer Scholar

Noury Khim Saovleak - PhD Rotation Student

Alexandra Fall - PhD Student

Vanesa Brecher - Summer Student

Carolyn Doty - PhD Student

Shannon Cole - Postdoctoral Fellow