Dr. Sergios (Sergey) Charntikov is an Assistant Professor of Psychology. He joined the UNH faculty in 2015 after completing his Ph.D. in behavioral neuroscience at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Dr. Charntikov teaches undergraduate level classes related to behavioral neuroscience and addiction. His research program focuses on applying a multidisciplinary approach to study behavior and neurobiology associated with substance use disorder. This approach encompasses a) investigation of short- and long-term effects of drugs of abuse, b) investigation and development of treatment relevant strategies, and c) improvement of existing and development of novel relapse prevention strategies. One arm of this research is focusing on understanding individual differences in substance use and in response to treatment. For example, Dr. Charntikov is interested in how individual vulnerability to stress contributes to traumatic stress and heroin use comorbidity or how individual history with nicotine or alcohol relates to various treatment outcomes. The other arm of the research in Dr. Charntikov lab focuses on the understanding of neural mechanisms underlying learning with drugs of abuse. We believe that investigating neural substrates underlying learning mechanisms with pharmacological stimuli is of great importance if the goal is to develop more effective treatment strategies. To achieve these goals, we are using a translationally relevant preclinical drug self-administration model that allows us to model relevant behavioral and neural mechanisms. We also rely on behavioral economics and advanced analytical approaches to assess individual effects and relate them to other markers of interest. Finally, our long-term goal is to able to determine the most suitable individualized treatment options for substance use disorder depending on the previous history of substance use and other behavioral or biological markers.
