Rate My Professor Laura O'Dell

Laura E. O’Dell is a Professor in the Department of Psychology and Associate Vice President for Research at the University of Texas at El Paso. She received her B.S. in Psychology and Biology from Texas A&M University in 1992, M.A. in Behavioral Neuroscience from Arizona State University in 1994, and Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience from Arizona State University in 1997. After completing postdoctoral fellowships at Amethyst Technologies, Inc. (1997-1999) and The Scripps Research Institute (1999-2000), she served as a Staff Scientist at Scripps Research Institute from 2001 to 2004. O’Dell joined UTEP’s Department of Psychology in 2005 as an Assistant Professor, was promoted to Associate Professor in 2010, and to Professor in 2016.

As director of the Neural Basis of Addiction Laboratory, O’Dell investigates the neural mechanisms underlying substance misuse, with a focus on nicotine addiction in vulnerable populations including adolescents, females, and those with diabetes. Her research employs neurochemical, molecular, and behavioral methods to explore sex differences, insulin resistance, and other factors modulating nicotine reward and withdrawal. Key publications include “The emergence of insulin resistance coincides with an increase in the reinforcing effects of nicotine in a sex-dependent manner” (Neuropharmacology, 2021), “Amino acid systems in the interpeduncular nucleus modulate nicotine withdrawal in a sex-dependent manner” (Journal of Neuroscience Research, 2021), and “Vulnerability to substance abuse: A consideration of allostatic loading factors” (Neuropharmacology, 2021). O’Dell has received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (2008), Excellence in Mentorship Award from the National Hispanic Science Network on Drugs of Abuse (2016), and Research Exemplar Award (2017). She has been appointed to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism study section (2020) and served in leadership roles such as Behavioral Neuroscience Area Chair and on various university committees.