Dr. Michael Bardo earned his PhD at Iowa State University in 1980, specializing in animal learning and psychopharmacology. Bardo also received postdoctoral training in neuropharmacology in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Iowa. In 1982, he assumed a faculty position in the Department of Psychology at the University of Kentucky, where he now holds the rank of Full Professor. His current research interests are focused on understanding (1) social influences controlling drug abuse, (2) genetic and neural functional mechanisms of opioid use disorder, and (3) development of novel medications to treat drug abuse and overdose.
POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLARS
We are currently seeking candidates to fill a postdoctoral position.
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Samantha Malone earned her B.S. degree in 2017 in Psychology from East Tennessee State University, where she studied the effects of receptor manipulation and dimerization on nicotine addiction. She is currently a graduate student in the Psychology Department’s Cognitive Neuroscience program. She is interested in the neurobiology and cellular pathophysiology of drug abuse disorder, and is especially interested in the cellular and behavioral aspects of opioid addiction. When not in the lab, Sam enjoys painting, drawing, hiking, kayaking, gardening, and playing video games.
Bree Humburg earned a B.S. degree in 2018 in Psychology from the Kansas State University, where she studied the effects of enrichment and isolation in rodent drug self-administration, non-drug self-administartion, abstinence, and AMPA receptor expression. Bree is currently a graduate student in the Department of Psychology's Cognitive Neuroscience program. She is interested in the behaviors and mechanisms the underlie addiction including the effects of social interactions during drug use. Bree is also interested in medication development for drugs of abuse. In her free time, Bree likes ot hand out with friends, pet dogs, knit, be outside, and ride motorcycles.
Koby Shaykin earned a B.S. degree in Behavioral Science in 2020 from Western Michigain University where he was involved in multiple pre-clinical studies assessing the rewarding properties, abuse potential, and sex-differences in different sythentic cathinones. Koby is currently a graduate student in the Department of Psychology's Cognitive Neuroscience program where he will be working with Dr Chandler investigating adolescent ethanol exposure and its impact on drug abuse. Koby is also interested in the discovery of medication as alternatives for traditionally prescribed analgesics. When not in the research lab, Koby likes to play guitar, exercise, watch sports, enjoy his hammock, and appreciate the nature around him.
STAFF
Emily Denehy is the Research Facilities Manager in the Bardo laboratory. She was a member of the technical staff from 2003-05 and then attended graduate school at the Medical University of South Carolina, where her research focused on methamphetamine neurotoxicity in mice. She graduated with a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences in May 2008.