Faculty Mentor

Professor Santiago Cuesta is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience. He received his PhD from the National University of Rosario in Argentina. He then moved to Montreal, Canada, to do a postdoctoral training at McGill University and then to UT Southwestern, Dallas, to pursue a second postdoc. His research focused on the influence of the gut microbiota - the bacteria that live in our gut - in the development of addiction and substance use disorders using a multidisciplinary approach that combines behavioral neuroscience techniques and microbiological strategies. His lab aims at generating data that can help the development of therapeutic strategies and early intervention programs directed to reduce the detrimental consequences of addiction and substance use disorders, as well as other psychiatric conditions. Outside of the lab he enjoys cooking, listening to music and spending time with his family and friends.