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Dr. Lovinger obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona and his Ph.D. in psychology from Northwestern University. He conducted postdoctoral research at NIAAA before joining the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 1991. In 2001, Dr. Lovinger was recruited back to NIAAA and became Chief of the Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience. He has served as Acting Scientific Director of NIAAA since 2022. Dr. Lovinger’s research focuses on the neurobiological bases of behavior, how alcohol affects the connections between neurons, and the neural mechanisms involved in alcohol use and alcohol use disorder.
In his role as Scientific Director, Dr. Lovinger provides scientific, programmatic, and administrative leadership for the NIAAA Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research. He will also be responsible for promoting an inclusive environment that values diverse perspectives, encouraging collaboration, facilitating mentoring and training, and conducting innovative research.