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The ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SOPPS) has become a home for several new faculty members over the last year. With these new faces walking the halls and in the labs conducting research, many are taking time to share their work and why they chose Binghamton as their new home.

Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences Jared Bagley, who joined SOPPS in 2024, uses his training in behavioral neuroscience/pharmacology and genomics to research the genetics and neurobiology of substance use disorders. In recognition of the fact that risk for substance use disorders is substantially influenced by genetics, he aims to integrate behavioral, neuroscience, genetic and genomic levels of analyses to uncover these regulatory mechanisms and their impact on the brain.

Bagley received training in genetics and neuroscience in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he pursued addiction genetics research and obtained a doctorate. He continued to pursue addiction neurogenetics research as a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Psychology at Binghamton and cultivated numerous techniques to make progress in the field.

Did you always want to do this type of research?

No, I originally planned to be a lawyer and was getting a BA in English at UC Davis. Then one night, I was just sitting in my backyard and my cat was going nuts, and I started thinking about animal behavior. That got me really interested in psychology, especially human behavior. So I switched majors and knew I wanted to do research. Eventually, I set my sights on becoming a professor doing scientific research. That decision sort of snowballed into everything I’m doing now.

What is your current work focused on?

My work focuses on addiction neurogenetics— understanding the genetic components that make someone more or less likely to develop a substance use disorder. We know that substances like alcohol or cocaine affect everyone, but not everyone develops an addiction. Genetics clearly plays a big role, but we still don’t know enough about which specific genes are involved or how they function in the brain. I’m trying to fill in those gaps by identifying candidate genes and then figuring out how they influence brain function. It’s kind of a blend of neuroscience and genomics, and I think that intersection is where real breakthroughs can happen.

What surprised you about this type of research?

What surprised me was how little we still understand about what actually puts someone at risk for addiction. We know a ton about how drugs like cocaine affect the brain — how they spike dopamine — but that doesn’t tell us why some people spiral into addiction and others don’t. Animal studies can show us how drugs work in the brain, but they often don’t explain the difference between a recreational user and someone who develops a disorder. That’s why I’m so interested in the genetics side. It could help us finally pinpoint what makes someone vulnerable. The end goal is not just to understand drug effects, but the disease itself.

Where do you see yourself when it comes to your work?

I see myself as a bridge between two worlds: neuroscience and genomics. Geneticists can identify potential addiction-related genes, but they often lack the tools to understand what those genes are doing in the brain. On the flip side, neuroscientists can analyze brain activity but don’t always know which genes to look at. I’ve been trained in both areas, so I can chase those leads from gene identification all the way to brain function. That dual focus is what I hope becomes my niche in this field.

What has your impression of SOPPS been so far?

This school has a really unique, positive vibe. The facilities are excellent, and there are a lot of top-tier scientists. I actually moved here for a postdoc in psychology before joining the pharmacy school. What stood out most was how motivated and capable the undergraduates were. We have so many students wanting to volunteer in the lab that we can only accept a small fraction. And the ones we do bring on are doing real, publishable research.

What made you choose/stay in Binghamton?

I never assumed I’d land a professorship here. These jobs are rare and scattered, and you usually apply to dozens across the country. But the timing worked out. An opening came up just as I was finishing my postdoc. Between the strong research culture, the great students and the supportive environment, it felt like the right place. So when I got the offer, it was a no-brainer to stay.

One of the hidden strengths of this school is that several of the faculty have real industry experience. That’s actually pretty rare in academia, but most graduate students I’ve met are more interested in industry than becoming professors. Having mentors who understand that world — how hiring works, what the expectations are — can really shape a student’s career path. It’s the kind of practical guidance that gives our students an edge when they leave here.