Research Assistant Professor of Pharmacy

Dr. Ponomarev has been a member of the Waggoner Center since 2002. His research focuses on the interplay between genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors in controlling brain gene expression and behavior in models of alcohol use disorder (AUD). He studies molecular mechanisms of AUD using genome-wide transcriptomic and epigenomic profiling and applies the tools of systems biology, such as gene network approaches, to provide an integrated view of brain responses to alcohol. Recently, his research group began to characterize molecular profiles from specific neurons of the neurocircuits implicated in drug addiction. An important component of this effort is discovering and prioritizing molecular targets for medication development to treat AUD and comorbid CNS disorders.

Dr. Ponomarev graduated from Novosibirsk State University, Russia with B.S. and M.S. in animal physiology. He received his Ph.D. degree in behavioral neuroscience from Oregon Health & Science University and postdoctoral training in molecular biology, genomics and bioinformatics from the University of Texas at Austin.