PI

I moved to the University of Pittsburgh to start the lab in 2021, continuing and extending my postdoc interests to incorporate models of opioid use and new collaborative projects within the department. Outside of lab, I can be found trying new restaurants, enjoying a Pirates game at PNC park, or (more commonly) chasing around my 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.

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW

I completed my PhD at Sorbonne University in Paris, where I studied the role of dopamine-glutamate receptors heteromerizations into the striatum in the context of psychiatric disorders such as addiction and depression. I'm interested in therapeutic strategies targeting GPCRs in the context of psychiatric diseases, especially related to reward and aversion. In the Joffe Lab, I’m working on a project exploring opioid receptors in the cortex. Outside the lab, I love sports and I’m always up for a good rock concert.

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 (Spring 2025)

Originally from New Jersey, I graduated with my B.S. in Neuroscience from Pitt in 2022 before continuing for two years as a lab technician studying rehabilitative and pharmacotherapies for traumatic brain injury. In Dr. Joffe's lab, I will be using patch clamp electrophysiology to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying how circulating gonadal hormones regulate sex differences in PFC PV interneuron physiology and synaptic plasticity. Outside of lab, I enjoy running, going to concerts, and reading.

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.

ROTATION STUDENT (Fall 2024)

I graduated from Rutgers University–Camden with a B.S. in Biology in 2022. There, I was actively involved in a research project where we developed a novel machine vision approach to analyze mice with spinal cord injuries. I then joined the University of Pennsylvania as a research technician after graduation and studied how pain is processed in the brain. In Dr. Joffe’s lab, I am investigating how chronic alcohol use and withdrawal-induced hypersensitivity alters circuits in the prefrontal cortex. Outside of research, I enjoy being involved in the community, reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

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 neuroscience and psychology student at Pitt in the class of 2026 from Central Jersey, and I have been a part of the Joffe Lab since my freshman year. I am primarily interested in the neural basis of alcohol use disorder and more broadly just learning about translational neuroscience as it relates to psychiatric disorders. When I am not in lab or class I can be found getting a sweet treat, consuming caffeine, cleaning or binge watching shows in languages I want to learn.

STAFF SCIENTIST

I got my bachelor’s in biology from American University and my PhD from The Ohio State University. I did a postdoc in Rui Peixoto’s lab at University of Pittsburgh studying development of the cortex and striatum in Shank3B and Fmr1 mouse models. In addition to research, I enjoy writing software to analyze slice electrophysiology (ClampSuite) and in vivo electrophysiology data (InVivoSuite), and for plotting nested categorical data (Lithos) which you can find on my GitHub. Outside of the lab, I like to hang out with my daughter and work on my various hobbies.

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

I am originally from the Boston area and graduated from Connecticut College with a BA in neuroscience in December 2024. I joined the Joffe lab originally in summer of 2024 through CNUP SURP and then again full-time after I graduated as a research assistant. I am interested in substance abuse disorder and translational research relevant to medicine. When I am not running experiments in lab, you can find me playing soccer, playing the violin, or spending time outdoors.

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT

I am a neuroscience student at Pitt in the class of 2028, originally from about 30 minutes outside of Pittsburgh. My main interest lies in understanding the neural basis of behavior, particularly how it relates to psychiatric disorders like alcohol use disorder. Outside of class and the lab, I enjoy listening to music, playing tennis, and spending time with friends.

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT

I am in the class of 2026 from Basking Ridge, New Jersey, majoring in Biology with minors in Neuroscience and Applied Statistics. I joined the Joffe Lab in early 2025, working closely with Dakota to assist in various projects and data analyses. My research interests lie in data collection and analysis, particularly in understanding how neural mechanisms can predict behaviors such as addiction. Outside the lab, I enjoy weightlifting, cooking, and spending time with friends.

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT

I am an undergraduate in the class of 2028 from the Philadelphia area majoring in neuroscience and psychology. I am interested in the neuropharmacology of addiction as well as treatments for other psychiatric disorders. Outside of lab, I love painting, reading books, and hiking.

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT

Graduated December 2024