Sally L. Huskinson, PhD

Sally L. Huskinson, PhD

Associate Professor

Department:
SOM-Psychiatry

Email:
shuskinson@umc.edu

Work Phone:
(601) 815-5619

Biography

My general research interests are in behavioral pharmacology and in the experimental analysis of behavior within the field of substance-use disorder. I completed my master's and doctoral degrees in psychology with the supervision of Karen Anderson, PhD, at West Virginia University. I completed my postdoctoral training at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, originally with William Woolverton, PhD, who passed away in June 2013, and continued my training at UMMC with James Rowlett, PhD and Kevin Freeman, PhD. I joined the faculty in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at UMMC in 2014 at the Instructor level and was promoted to Assistant Professor in February 2018 and to Associate Professor in July 2023. During my time at UMMC, I have completed a postdoctoral NRSA (F32) from NIH, which focused on uncertain access as a determinant of drug-related behavior and was awarded an R01 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to continue this line of work and extend it to female subjects. In 2022, I was awarded a second R01, also from NIDA, to evaluate the role of drug history in the reinforcing effects of benzodiazepines.

Education

University of Mississippi Medical Center, Postdoctoral Fellowship, Behavioral Pharmacology2014
West Virginia University, PhD, Psychology2012
West Virginia University, MS, Psychology2011
Idaho State University, BS, Psychology2007

Current Positions

Associate Professor, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry07/2023 - Present
Graduate Faculty, Program in Neuroscience, School of Graduate School in the Health Sciences07/2019 - Present
The University of Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson, Mississippi 39216

Academic Appointments or Other Previous Appointments

Assistant Professor, University of Mississippi Medical Center, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry02/2018 - 06/2023
Instructor, University of Mississippi Medical Center, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry09/2014 - 02/2018
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Mississippi Medical Center, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry07/2012 - 09/2014
Graduate Teaching Assistant, West Virginia University08/2008 - 05/2012

Sponsored Program Funding

Extramural, Benzodiazepine Choice and Polydrug Use, NIH/NIDA04/2022 - 01/2027
Extramural, Anxiolytic effects and abuse of BZ receptor ligands, NIH/NIDA07/2020 - 04/2025
Extramural, Unpredictable availability as a determinant of drug-related outcomes, NIH/NIDA04/2018 - 03/2024
Intramural, Unpredictable drug availability as a determinant of drug abuse, COBRE Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience/NIH/NIGMS08/2017 - 07/2018
Extramural, Deterrents for prescription opioid abuse, NIH/NIDA09/2015 - 05/2026
Extramural, Unpredictable drug and non-drug alternatives as determinants of cocaine choice, NIH/NIDA07/2014 - 07/2017

Publications

Review and Policy Paper

Doyle WS, Huskinson SL Environmental Uncertainty and Substance Use Disorders: A Behavior Analytic Perspective Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences. 2023; 10(1):96-103

Presentations

Synposium, Looking out instead of in: How Bill inspired us to study context in drug taking, 85th Annual Meeting for the College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Denver, CO06/2023
Platform Presentations, Resistance of cocaine and food reinforcement to extinction and punishment under fixed vs. variable schedules in male and female rhesus monkeys, 85th Annual Meeting of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Denver, CO06/2023
Oral Presentation, Self-administration of fentanyl and the fluorinated fentanyl analogue, NFEPP, by rhesus monkeys, International Study Group Investigating Drugs as Reinforcers, Denver, CO06/2023
Symposium, Using rich-lean transition procedures as an assay for putative anti-anxiety medications, 49th Annual Convention for the Association for Behavior Analysis International, Denver, CO05/2023
Regional Invited Seminars/Lectures, The kappa-opioid receptor agonists, U50,488 and triazole 1.1, reduce oxycodone choice in rhesus macaques, 15th Annual Behavior, Biology, and Chemistry: Translational Research in Substance Use Disorders Conference, San Antonio, TX03/2023
Regional Invited Seminars/Lectures, Resistance of cocaine and food reinforcement to extinction and punishment under fixed vs. variable schedules of reinforcement, 15th Annual Behavior, Biology, and Chemistry: Translational Research in Substance Use Disorders Conference, San Antonio, TX03/2023
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, The role of uncertain reinforcer cost on resistance to punishment and extinction in rhesus monkeys, SGSHS Research Day, Jackson, MS11/2022
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, The kappa-opioid receptor agonists, U50,488 and triazole 1.1, reduce oxycodone choice in female and male non-human primates, SGSHS Research Day, Jackson, MS11/2022
Platform Presentations, Quantification of observable behaviors following oral administration of oxycodone and nalfurafine in male rhesus monkeys, College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Minneapolis, Minnesota06/2022
Platform Presentations, Role of uncertain drug cost on choice between cocaine or fentanyl and food reinforcers in rhesus monkeys, College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Minneapolis, Minnesota06/2022
Symposium, Feasibility of rich-lean transition procedures with rhesus monkeys as an assay for putative anti-anxiety medications, Association for Behavior Analysis International, Boston, Massachusetts05/2022
Poster Presentation, The role of uncertain reinforcer cost on resistance to punishment and extinction in rhesus monkeys, Mississippi Academy of Sciences, Biloxi, Mississippi04/2022
Platform Presentations, Typical and atypical kappa opioid agonists reduce cocaine and oxycodone choice in a drug vs. food self-administration model in male rhesus monkeys., Annual Meeting of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Virtual Conference06/2021
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, An introduction to contingency management: Foundations in basic and clinical science, 9th Annual Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Workshop, University of Mississippi Medical Center06/2021
Poster Presentation, Uncertain drug cost as an historical factor contributing to drug vs. nondrug choice in rhesus monkeys, Annual Convention for the Association for Behavior Analysis International, Virtual Conference05/2021
Platform Presentations, Uncertainty as a factor contributing to drug vs. nondrug choice, Annual Meeting for the College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Virtual Event06/2020
Poster Presentation, Uncertainty as a factor contributing to drug vs. nondrug choice, Convention for the Association for Behavior Analysis International, Virtual Conference05/2020
Regional Invited Seminars/Lectures, Unpredictability as a factor contributing to drug-taking behavior, Behavioral Neuroscience seminar series in the Psychology Department at the University of Memphis, Memphis, TN11/2019
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Contingency management interventions for substance-use disorder, Mississippi Association of Drug Court Professionals, Oxford, MS08/2019
Platform Presentations, Quantification of observable behaviors induced by kappa agonists in rhesus monkeys: Effects of signaling bias, College on Problems of Drug Dependence, San Antonio, TX06/2019
National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Uncertainty as a major factor underlying substance-use disorder, Society for the Quantitative Analysis of Behavior, Chicago, IL05/2019
National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Variability as a determinant of food and cocaine choice in rhesus monkeys, Association for Behavior Analysis International, Chicago, IL05/2019
Symposia Speaker, Delay discounting of food and cocaine in male rhesus monkeys, Association for Behavior Analysis International, Chicago, IL05/2019
Poster Presentation, Variability as a determinant of food and cocaine choice in rhesus monkeys, Association for Behavior Analysis International Substance Use and Addiction Conference, Washington, DC11/2018
Platform Presentations, Sex differences in midazolam self-administration in rats, College on Problems of Drug Dependence, San Diego, CA06/2018
Platform Presentations, Oxycodone self-administration on a progressive-ratio schedule is reduced by contingent administration of the atypical kappa-opioid agonist, nalfurafine, in rhesus monkeys, College on Problems of Drug Dependence, San Diego, CA06/2018
Poster Presentation, Quantification of unconditioned behaviors induce by kappa agonists in rhesus monkeys: Effects of signaling bias, College on Problems of Drug Dependence, San Diego, CA06/2018
Poster Presentation, Sex differences in midazolam self-administration in rats, Annual Convention for the Association for Behavior Analysis International, San Diego, CA05/2018
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Uncertainty as a major factor underlying substance-use disorder, Psychiatry Grand Rounds, UMMC03/2018
Oral Communication, Self-administration of benzodiazepine and cocaine combinations by monkeys in a choice procedure: Role of GABA-A receptor subtypes, College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Montreal, Canada06/2017
Oral Communication, Comparison of the punishing effects of nalfurafine and salvinorin A on cocaine self-administration in rhesus monkeys in a drug vs. drug choice design, College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Montreal, Canada06/2017
Poster Presentation, Cues and stressors but not primes produce reinstatement of midazolam-maintained behavior in rats, College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Montreal, Canada06/2017
Poster Presentation, Self-administration of benzodiazepine and
cocaine combinations by monkeys in a choice procedure: Role of GABA-A receptor subtypes, Association for Behavior Analysis International, Denver, Colorado
05/2017
Invited Symposia, Delay discounting of drug and non-drug reinforcers in rhesus monkeys: Toward a more rapid procedure., International Study Group Investigating Drugs as Reinforcers, Palm Springs, California06/2016
Oral Communication, Variable availability as a determinant of cocaine choice in rhesus monkeys, College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Palm Springs, California06/2016
Poster Presentation, Novel environment response as a predictor of midazolam self-administration in rats, College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Palm Springs, California06/2016
Oral Presentation, Effects of the atypical kappa opioid receptor agonist, Nalfurafine, on oxycodone reinforcement in male rats, International Study Group Investigating Drugs as Reinforcers, Palm Springs, California06/2016
Symposium Presentation, Self-administration of benzodiazepines in cocaine-experienced monkeys: Role of GABAA receptor subtypes, Association for Behavior Analysis International, Chicago, Illinois05/2016
Symposium Presentation, Benzodiazepines as reinforcers: Recent findings and perspectives, Association for Behavior Analysis International, Chicago, Illinois05/2016
Symposium Presentation, Self-administration of midazolam in rats: Antecedents and reinstatement, Association for Behavior Analysis International, Chicago, Illinois05/2016
State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Shallow discounting of delayed cocaine by rhesus monkeys when immediate food is the choice alternative, Young Investigator Forum, Annual Neuroscience Research Day, Jackson, Mississippi04/2016
Poster Presentation, Shallow discounting of delayed cocaine by rhesus monkeys when immediate food is the choice alternative, Annual UM/UMMC Research Day, Jackson, Mississippi04/2016
National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Unpredictable (variable) availability as a determinant of cocaine choice in rhesus monkeys, Alcohol Steering Committee at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut10/2015
Regional Invited Seminars/Lectures, Variable availability as a determinant of drug and non-drug choice in rhesus monkeys, Annual Lab Exchange at Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia08/2015
Oral Communication, Self-Administration of second-generation synthetic cathinones in rats, College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Phoenix, Arizona06/2015
Oral Communication, Unpredictable availability as a determinant of cocaine choice, College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Poenix, Arizona06/2015
Poster Presentation, Unpredictable availability as a determinant of cocaine choice in rhesus monkeys, Association for Behavior Analysis International, San Antonio, Texas05/2015
Poster Presentation, A procedure for rapid determination of delay discounting of drug and non-drug reinforcers in monkeys, College on Problems of Drug Dependence, San Juan, Puerto Rico06/2014
Invited Symposia, Delay discounting and the choice to take a drug, College on Problems of Drug Dependence, San Juan, Puerto Rico06/2014
Poster Presentation, Corn oil is a more effective reinforcer in obese than in lean Zucker rats, Association for Behavior Analysis International, Minneapolis, Minnesota05/2013
Poster Presentation, Effects of implementing a commitment response on module-quiz taking in college students, Association for Behavior Analysis, Seattle, Washington05/2012
Poster Presentation, Effects of fixed-interval requirements and d-amphetamine on delay discounting in rats, Association for Behavior Analysis, Seattle, Washington05/2012
Symposium Presentation, Effects of fixed-ratio requirements and d-amphetamine on delay discounting in rats, Association for Behavior Analysis, Denver, Colorado05/2011

Honors, Awards, and Recognition

Gold Excellence in Research Award, University of Mississippi Medical Center2020
Diversity and Inclusion Champion, University of Mississippi Medical Center2020
Silver Excellence in Research Award, University of Mississippi Medical Center2019
Bronze Excellence in Research Award, University of Mississippi Medical Center2018
NIDA Director's Travel Award, National Institute on Drug Abuse2016
CPDD Young Investigator Travel Award, College on Problems of Drug Dependence2015
Don Hake Award fo Outstanding Graduate School Career, Department of Psychology, West Virginia University2012
Department of Psychology Student Research Fund, West Virginia University2011
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Doctoral Research Award, West Virginia University2011
HERF Award (supplemental fellowship), West Virginia University2008
Undergraduate Research Committee Travel Grant, Idaho State University2007

Professional Membership and Service

International Study Group Investigating Drugs as Reinforcers, Officer-President2023 - Present
American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Member2023 - Present
International Study Group Investigating Drugs as Reinforcers, Officer, Secretary2021 - 2023
International Study Group Investigating Drugs as Reinforcers, Member2014 - Present
APA, Division 28, Psychopharmacology and Substance Abuse, Member2014 - Present
College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Member2013 - Present
Mississippi Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience2012 - 2017
American Psychological Association, Member2011 - Present
Society for Quantitative Analyses of Behavior, Member2009 - 2012
Southeastern Association for Behavior Analysis, Member2008 - 2012
Association for Behavior Analysis International, Member2006 - Present

Committee Service

Diversity & Inclusion Training Oversight Committee, Psychology Division of Psychiatry Department, Member2023 - Present
DNBR Faculty Search Committee, Member2022 - 2023
Division 25 of the American Psychological Association Innovative Student Research Award, Member2022 - 2022
Travel Awards Committee; Behavior, Biology, and Chemistry: Translational Research in Addiction, San Antonio, Tx, Member2021 - Present
Psychiatry Resident File Reviews and Interviews, Member2020 - 2021
Graduate Program in Neuroscience Admissions Committee, Member2019 - Present
Division of Neurobiology and Behavior Research representative to the Psychiatry and Human Behavior Grand Rounds Committee, Member2019 - 2022
MEDICAL CENTER-ANIMAL CARE AND USE, Member2019 - Present
College on Problems of Drug Dependence, member representative to STAR (Supporting Truth about Animal Research), Member2019 - 2021
College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Animals in Research Committee, Member2018 - 2021
Association for Behavior Analysis International, Program Area Coordinator for Behavioral Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Area Coordinator2018 - 2022
Activity Report Subcommittee, Member2015 - 2018
Advisory Committee, Office of Postdoctoral Studies, Member2014 - 2016
Graduate Training Committee, Student Representative, West Virginia University, Member2010 - 2011
Behavior Analysis Training Committee, Student Representative, West Virginia University, Member2009 - 2010

Community Service

Discovery U event at Mississippi Children's Museum, Jackson, MS, Neuroscience Team Leader03/2016 - 04/2016
Career speed learning sessions at St. Andrew's Middle School Girls' Summit, Jackson, MS, Spoke to young girls about my career as an academic scientist01/2015 - 01/2015

Other Service

Chair and Discussant, EAB Poster Session, 49th Annual Convention for the Association for Behavior Analysis International, Denver, CO05/2023 - 05/2023
Trainee Poster Presentation Judge, 15th annual meeting of Behavior, Biology, and Chemistry: Translational Research in Addiction, San Antonio, TX03/2023 - 03/2023
Learning & Behavior2023 - Present
Addictive Disorders, Review Editor, Frontiers in Psychiatry10/2022 - Present
Psychiatry Resident Interviews, Interviewer09/2022 - 01/2023
Oral Communication Chair, Oral Communication: Choice Behaviors, 84th Annual Meeting for the College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Minneapolis, MN06/2022 - 06/2022
NIH Biobehavioral Regulation, Learning and Ethology (BRLE) study section, NIH Ad Hoc Grant Reviewer05/2022 - 06/2022
Session Chair, Oral Communications III, 14th annual meeting of Behavior, Biology, and Chemistry: Translational Research in Addiction, San Antonio, TX02/2022 - 02/2022
Trainee Poster Presentation Judge, 14th annual meeting of Behavior, Biology, and Chemistry: Translational Research in Addiction, San Antonio, TX02/2022 - 02/2022
Motivation and Reward, Review Editor, Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience04/2021 - Present
Perspectives on Behavior Science, Special Issue: Applications of Quantitative Models, Guest Editor for Special Issue01/2021 - 01/2022
Trainee Oral Communications Judge, 12th Annual meeting of Behavior, Biology, and Chemistry: Translational Research in Addiction02/2020 - 03/2020
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior09/2019 - Present
Oral Communications Co-Chair, Oral Communications Session 2 at the 79th Annual Meeting for the College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Montreal, Canada06/2017 - 06/2017
Oral Communications Co-Chair, Oral Communications Session VI at the 78th Annual Meeting for the College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Palms Springs, CA06/2016 - 06/2016
Symposium Chair, Why mother's little helper keeps "helping": Behavioral and pharmacological determinants of benzodiazepine self-administration, symposium presented at the 42nd Annual Convention for the Association for Behavior Analysis International, Chicago, IL05/2016 - 05/2016
Annual Neuroscience Research Day Poster Judge04/2016 - 04/2019
Oral Communications Co-Chair, Oral Communications Session XIV at 77th Annual Meeting for the College on Problems of Drug Dependence06/2015 - 06/2015
Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
Learning and Behavior
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
The Behavior Analyst, Perspectives on Behavior Science
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology
Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice
Neuropharmacology
Journal of Psychopharmacology
The Psychological Record
Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
Behavioural Processes
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
PLOS ONE
Psychopharmacology
Behavioural Brain Research
Behavioural Pharmacology
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior

Teaching Experience

Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Methods in Behavioral Pharmacology, Foundations of NeuroscienceSpring 2023
Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Pharmacology of Drugs of Abuse: Brain Reward Mechanisms and Stimulants, Foundations of NeuroscienceSpring 2023
Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Pharmacology of Drugs of Abuse: Opioids, Foundations of NeuroscienceSpring 2023
Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Pharmacology of Drugs of Abuse: Cannabinoids and Hallucinogens, Foundations of NeuroscienceSpring 2023
Graduate, Course, Neuropharmacology Section Director, Foundations of NeuroscienceSpring 2023
Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Methods in Behavioral Pharmacology lecture, Foundations in NeuroscienceSpring 2022
Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Pharmacology of Drugs of Abuse: Opioids, Foundations of NeuroscienceSpring 2022
Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Pharmacology of Drugs of Abuse: Cannabinoids and Hallucinogens, Foundations of NeuroscienceSpring 2022
Graduate, Course, Neuropharmacology Section Director, Foundations of NeuroscienceSpring 2022
Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Pharmacology of Drugs of Abuse: Cannabinoids and Hallucinogens, Foundations of NeuroscienceSpring 2021
MCCTR, Small Group, Facilitator, Mentoring Academy, Session 5Fall 2021
NSCI 708, Graduate, Course, Section Leader, Special Topics in NeuroscienceSummer 2021
Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Methods in Behavioral Pharmacology lecture, Foundations in NeuroscienceSpring 2021
Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Pharmacology of Drugs of Abuse: Opioids, Foundations of NeuroscienceSpring 2021
Graduate, Course, Neuropharmacology Section Director, Foundations of NeuroscienceSpring 2021
Graduate, Course, Neuropharmacology Section Director, Foundations of NeuroscienceSpring 2020
Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Pharmacology of Drugs of Abuse: Opioids, Foundations of NeuroscienceSpring 2020
Graduate, Small Group, Facilitator, Special Topics in NeuroscienceSummer 2020
Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Methods in Behavioral Pharmacology lecture, Foundations in NeuroscienceSpring 2020
Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Pharmacology of Drugs of Abuse: Brain Reward Mechanisms and Stimulants, Foundations of NeuroscienceSpring 2019
Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Methods in Behavioral Pharmacology lecture, Foundations in NeuroscienceSpring 2019
Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Methods in Behavioral Pharmacology lecture, Foundations in NeuroscienceSpring 2018
Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Methods in Behavioral Pharmacology lecture, Foundations in NeuroscienceSpring 2017
Graduate, Lecture, Discussion Leader, Responsible Conduct of ResearchSpring 2016
Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Methods in Behavioral Pharmacology lecture, Foundations in NeuroscienceSpring 2016
Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Methods in Behavioral Pharmacology lecture, Foundations in NeuroscienceSpring 2015
Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Methods in Behavioral Pharmacology lecture, Foundations in NeuroscienceSpring 2014
Graduate, Lecture, Guest Presenter, CNS PharmacologySpring 2013

Directed Student Learning

Doctoral Qualifying Exam Committee, Member, Advised: Daniel Borgatti2023 - 2023
Supervised Research, Advised: Neha Piracha2023 - 2023
Supervised Research, Advised: SB Boone2023 - 2023
Master's Thesis Committee Member, Effects of Chlordiazepoxie, d-Amphetamine, and Morphine on Rats' Choices between Food Alone and Food with Delayed Shock
Advised: Mackenzie Baranski
2022 - Present
Doctoral Advisory Committee Chair, Uncertainty in reinforcement and punishment as contributors to substance use disorders
Advised: William Doyle
2022 - Present
Supervised Research, Advised: SB Boone2022 - 2022
Supervised Research, Advised: Alexandra Ladner2022 - 2022
Doctoral Advisory Committee Member, Advised: Shelley Edwards2022 - Present
Doctoral Qualifying Exam Committee, Member, Advised: Shelley Edwards2021 - 2021
Supervised Research, Advised: Daniel Borgatti2021 - 2021
Doctoral Advisory Committee Member, Advised: Loc Pham2021 - Present
Qualifying Exam Committee, Member, Advised: Elizabeth Gordineer2021 - 2021
Supervised Research, Advised: Tanya Pareek2020 - 2020
Supervised Research, Advised: William Doyle2020 - 2022
Supervised Research, Advised: Jake Valeri2019 - 2019
Supervised Research, Advised: Neha Arora2018 - 2018

Fellows supervised

co-mentor, 1 fellows supervised06/2015 - 06/2018