Sarah Honeycutt
I am interested in the underlying neurocircuitry associated with conditioned motivated behavior, particularly addiction related behavior, and the neurobiological changes concomitant with addiction-like behaviors. My research involves polysubstance use, with a focus on nicotine and opioid interactions. I am currently continuing work involving nicotine effects within the insular cortex upon reinforcing and aversive properties of opioids. Additionally, I am exploring the effects of adolescent nicotine exposure upon later opioid-motivated behaviors and the role of the orexin system in these behaviors.
Kajol Sontate
I am an International Graduate student pursuing a PhD degree in the Neuroscience program. I have been a part of Loney lab since October 2021. Currently, I am working on a project that involves elucidating the mechanistic role dopaminergic innervation of the insular cortex on pavlovian conditioning with alcohol- and opioid-associated cues. I received my MS degree studying the neurobiology of substance use disorders from SUNY Buffalo in 2023. Apart from academics I love cooking, singing, painting and most other things that involve art.
Former Lab Members
Ashmita Mukherjee
Ash defended her PhD in 2025
Cerissa Shorter
Cerissa defended her MS in 2024