Dr. Walker is interested in the neurobiology of motivational systems and how acute and long-term alcohol (and other drugs of abuse) impacts those systems to promote increased drug seeking and consumption. Current research has focused on the recruitment of negative affective systems in ethanol dependence that appear to contribute to excessive alcohol intake.

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION :
1997 - B.A. Psychology, Minor in Cognitive              Neuroscience,Temple University,              Philadelphia, PA

1999 - M.A. Psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA

2003 - Ph.D., Psychology, Specializing in Behavioral Neuroscience, University of              California, Santa Barbara, CA

2004 - 2006, Post-doctoral Fellow: The Scripps Research Institute,              Alcohol Research Center, La Jolla CA; Director: George F Koob, Ph.D.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
2000-2001:     Substance Abuse Counselor with the Council on Alcoholism and                           Drug Abuse in Santa Barbara, CA. Group and individual counseling                           with SB-38 (multiple offender drinking and driving) program.
2000-2003:      Lecturer, Course Instructor. Psychology  Dept., University of California                            at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
2001-2003:      Adjunct Faculty., Santa Barbara City College, Santa Barbara, CA.
2004-2006:      Research Associate, Molecular and Integrative Neuroscience                            Department, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA.
2005-2006:      Adjunct Faculty, Psychology Dept., Mesa Community College, San                            Diego, CA.
2006-present: Adjunct Faculty, Psychology Dept., University of San Diego, San                            Diego, CA.
2007-present: Staff Scientist, Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences Department,
                           The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA.

AWARDS & HONORS:
1997: Induction into the Phi Beta Kappa society

2001-2003: Individual pre-doctoral National Research Service Award (DA 06019) from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

2004-2007: Individual post-doctoral National Research Service Award (AA 014723) from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES:
American Psychological Association
Society for Neuroscience
International Behavioral Neuroscience Society
Phi Beta Kappa

PEER-REVIEWED MANUSCRIPTS:

1. Walker B, Ettenberg A (2001) Benzodiazepine modulation of opiate reward. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 9 (2):191-197.

2. Walker B, Ettenberg A (2002) The effects of alprazolam on conditioned place preferences produced by intravenous heroin. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 75(1):75-80.

3. Walker B, Ettenberg A (2005) Intra-ventral tegmental area heroin-induced place preferences are potentiated by systemic alprazolam. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 82(3):470-477.

4. Walker B, Koob G (2007)The GABAB receptor agonist baclofen attenuates operant responding for ethanol in ethanol-dependent rats. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 31(1):11-18.

5. Ehlers C, Walker B, Pian J, Roth J, Slawecki C (2007) Increased alcohol drinking in isolate-housed alcohol-preferring (P) rats. Behavior Neurosci 121(1):111-119.

6. Walker B, Ettenberg A (2007)Intracerebroventricular ethanol-induced conditioned place preferences are prevented by fluphenazine infusions into the nucleus accumbens. Behavior Neurosci 121(2):401-410.

7. Walker B, Koob G (2007) Pharmacological evidence for a motivational role of kappa-opioid systems in ethanol dependence. Neuropsychopharmacology doi: 10.1038/sj.npp.1301438