Andrew Hawkey, Ph.D.

Major Current and Upcoming Projects:

a) Effects of "Forever Chemicals" (PFAS) on physical and neurological development : Toxicity and potential for multiple PFAS to interactively alter health.

 

b) Modelling of substance abuse, dependence and developmental impact characteristics in aquatic species

 

c) Recovery from brain injury : Development of marine pharmaceuticals to "reopen developmental windows" and enhance neural circuit restructuring

 

 

 

Dr. Hawkey is a generalist in the areas of neuropharmacology and behavioral neuroscience. Over his graduate, postdoctoral and faculty experience, he has done evaluations on dozens of chemicals, including drugs of abuse, potentially therapeutic drugs, and other neuroactive substances. He is curious well beyond any one neurological process, behavior, disorder, or cause, and loves to collaborate with others to create new and diverse research. He aims to inspire the same curiosity in his students. 

 

Dr. Hawkey's current research focuses on investigations of behavioral neuroscience, neuropharmacology and developmental neurobiology using zebrafish and aquatic invertebrate models. General work in the lab aims to further develop these model species and use them to test new medications and modifiable determinants of mental health. 

 

Generally, we ask questions that cannot be asked of and/or answered using human data. How does that work in animals which look so very different from us?

 

Our process:

1. We observe, measure, parametrically evaluate and conceptualize behavior.
2. We observe, measure, and track physical health and morphology across development.
3. We pull together information from ecology, neuroscience, and comparative biology to contextualize structure-function relationships.
4. We probe living aquatic organisms with drugs, toxins, and experiences which reveal the sensory, motor, and affective/adaptive capabilities of these creatures, and their relative vulnerabilities to common adverse events.
5.  We propose and evaluate biological mechanisms which may contribute to, protect against, or complicate the prediction of neurological symptoms in those species. 

 

Many potential factors need to be tested, and students joining the lab will be able to explore the behavioral/developmental significance of factors like alcohol, nicotine, psychiatric medications, potential new medications for the treatment of brain injury, and environmental perterbations like toxicants, odors, circadian rhythm disruption, heat shock, etc. 

 

Given these broad interests, prospective students should chat with Dr. Hawkey about what aspects of this work align with their interests.

 

From there, students can be matched with current/upcoming projects, or even propose new studies. 

Core Research Areas:
Comparative psychology

Developmental neuroscience
Psychopharmacology