PI

Max moved to the University of Pittsburgh to start his lab in 2021, and the lab largely continues and extends his postdoc interests to incorporate models of opioid use and new collaborative projects within the department. Outside of lab, Max can be found trying new restaurants, enjoying at a Pirates game at PNC park, or (more commonly) chasing around his 2 young kids.

LAB MANAGER

I graduated from Pitt with a B.S. in Neuroscience in 2022 and am now working as lab manager for the Joffe Lab. I am interested in molecular neuroscience and conduct most of our molecular experiments. I am also responsible for lab organization, protocol compliance, and supplies/animal colony management. In my free time, I enjoy playing the flute, ultimate frisbee, and collecting rocks.

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW

I got my bachelors in neuroscience from Ohio University, and a PhD in neuroscience from Penn State. My research interests include neuropeptides and therapeutic targets for alcohol use and neuropsychiatric disorders. My project focuses on VIP in prefrontal cortex and the effects of alcohol throughout development. Outside of lab I enjoy mountain biking and taking my dog for walks.

PhD CANDIDATE

I received my Bachelor's of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. I am interested in identifying how experiences, such as alcohol exposure or stress, leads to synaptic and circuit-level adaptations on cortical interneurons, and how these changes shape behavior. My current research examines how chronic alcohol shapes PV-INs and mGlu5 receptor function to promote voluntary drinking in mice. Outside of lab, I enjoy hiking and spending time with my cats.

GRADUATE STUDENT

I'm originally from northern VA but did my undergrad at Boston University where I majored in Neuroscience and researched learning and memory. I'm primarily interested in mechanisms of opioid-mediated plasticity that underlie addiction-related behavior and my project focuses specifically on opioid signaling in cortical interneurons. My hobbies outside of lab include reading, my cats, my gecko, and my plants.

ROTATION STUDENT (Fall 2024)

I was born and raised in Washington, went to Western Washington University, and then moved to Baltimore to do a postbac at the NIH. My research interests are in GPCR pharmacology and how repeated drug exposures, especially to drugs of abuse, lead to changes in physiology and behavior. In Dr. Joffe's lab I will be examining xylazine's mechanism of action in PFC circuits through electrophysiological and behavioral assays. Outside of lab, I enjoy photography, learning about space, taking pictures of space, and playing soccer.

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

I am from Philadelphia and recently graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2024 with a B.S in Neuroscience. I was an undergrad in the Joffe Lab and now work as a research assistant. I am interested in the neural and behavioral mechanisms that drive addiction and alcohol use. Outside of lab, I enjoy dancing, listening to music and traveling.

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT

I am a senior neuroscience major at Pitt from the Bay Area in California, and I have been in the Joffe Lab since my freshman year. Here, I have had the opportunity to work on a project studying Opioid Use Disorder. When not in class or lab, I enjoy hiking, exploring cafes, and reading a good book.

I am an undergraduate neuroscience student at Connecticut College. I am interested in substance use disorder and neuropathic pain, and more broadly in neuroscience research with translational relevance to medicine. During the summer of 2024 I worked on a recently-developed operant chamber for self-administration of nicotine vapor in mice. Outside of lab I am avid soccer player, violinist, outdoor enthusiast, and love to travel internationally.