Amy S. Kohtz, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department:
SOM-Psychiatry
Email:
akohtz@umc.edu
Work Phone:
(601) 815-1017
Education
| SUNY at Albany, PhD, Behavioral Neuroscience | 2014 |
| SUNY at Albany, BA, Psychology | 2009 |
| Rutgers University, Addiction Neuroscience |
Current Positions
| Assistant Professor, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry | 2022 - Present |
| The University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson, Mississippi 39216 | |
Sponsored Program Funding
| Extramural, Translational Development and Mechanistic Characterization of Small Molecule Drug for Huntington's Disease Therapy., NINDS | 09/2026 - 08/2031 |
| Extramural, Oxytocin as a potential therapeutic for endocrine dysfunction in cocaine use disorder., NIDA | 04/2026 - 03/2031 |
| Intramural, Profiling of sex-specific neural circuitry driving cocaine relapse vulnerability., Intramural Research Support Program | 10/2025 - 10/2026 |
| Intramural, Role of Norepinephrine in Sex Differences in Cocaine-Seeking, Intramural Research Support Program | 10/2024 - 10/2025 |
| Extramural, Short Sleep Duration as a Predictor of Methamphetamine Intake: Role of Orexin Mechanisms., NIDA | 03/2024 - 02/2029 |
| Extramural, Sex Differences in Operant Cocaine Memories, NIGMS | 02/2024 - 06/2026 |
| Extramural, Tolerance and Physical Dependence after Chronic Benzodiazepine Treatment, NIDA | 04/2023 - 03/2028 |
| Intramural, Impact of Gestational Chlorpyrifos Exposure on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder., Mississippi Center of Excellence in Perinatal Research | 01/2023 - 12/2023 |
| Extramural, Sex Differences in Addiction, NIDA | 02/2022 - 02/2026 |
| Extramural, Sex Differences in Addiction, NIDA | 03/2019 - 02/2022 |
Publications
Journal Article | |
| Huskinson SL, Kohtz AS, Endocrine modulation of stimulant use: bidirectional interactions within the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience, 2026;20:1778346 | 2026 |
| Kohtz AS, Davies H, Lin B, Aston-Jones G, Oxytocin attenuates demand for cocaine in female rats. Addiction neuroscience, 2025 Jun;15 | 2025 |
| Cockrell CM, Cox AL, Berry M, Kohtz AS, Oxytocin Attenuates the Endocrine Disrupting Effects of Cocaine in the Female Rat. Endocrinology, 2025 May 19;166(7) | 2025 |
| De Sa Nogueira D, Corwin C, Rakholia Y, Punnuru V, Nampally M, Kohtz AS, Aston-Jones G, Fentanyl demand and seeking in female rats: Role of the orexin system and estrous cycle. Addiction neuroscience, 2024 Dec;13 | 2024 |
| Kohtz AS, Zhao J, Aston-Jones G, Serotonin Signaling in Hippocampus during Initial Cocaine Abstinence Drives Persistent Drug Seeking. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 2024 Apr 24;44(17) | 2024 |
| Berry MM, Miller B, Kelsen S, Cockrell C, Kohtz AS, Sex differences in hippocampal β-adrenergic receptor subtypes drive retrieval, retention, and learning of cocaine-associated memories. Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience, 2024;18:1379866 | 2024 |
| Kohtz AS, Frye CA, It is all About the Chase: Neurosteroidogenesis in Male Rats is Driven by Control of Mating Pace. Current neuropharmacology, 2023;21(7):1606-1616 | 2023 |
| Kohtz AS, Lin B, Davies H, Presker M, Aston-Jones G, Hormonal milieu drives economic demand for cocaine in female rats. Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 2022 Jul;47(8):1484-1492 | 2022 |
| Kohtz AS, Frye CA, Learning and the Lifespan: What's Sex Got to Do With It? Frontiers in neuroscience, 2020;14:216 | 2020 |
| Kohtz AS, Walf AA, Frye CA, Effects of non-contingent cocaine on 3 alpha-androstanediol. II. Disruption of lordosis of proestrous rats. Physiology & behavior, 2019 May 1;203:113-119 | 2019 |
| Kohtz AS, Walf AA, Frye CA, Effects of non-contingent cocaine on 3alpha-androstanediol. I. Disruption of male sexual behavior. Physiology & behavior, 2019 May 1;203:120-127 | 2019 |
| Kohtz AS, Lin B, Smith ME, Aston-Jones G, Attenuated cocaine-seeking after oxytocin administration in male and female rats. Psychopharmacology, 2018 Jul;235(7):2051-2063 | 2018 |
| Steinmetz AB, Stern SA, Kohtz AS, Descalzi G, Alberini CM, Insulin-Like Growth Factor II Targets the mTOR Pathway to Reverse Autism-Like Phenotypes in Mice. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 2018 Jan 24;38(4):1015-1029 | 2018 |
| McRae-Clark AL, Cason AM, Kohtz AS, Moran Santa-Maria M, Aston-Jones G, Brady KT, Impact of gender on corticotropin-releasing factor and noradrenergic sensitivity in cocaine use disorder. Journal of neuroscience research, 2017 Jan 2;95(1-2):320-327 | 2017 |
| Kohtz AS, Aston-Jones G, Cocaine Seeking During Initial Abstinence Is Driven by Noradrenergic and Serotonergic Signaling in Hippocampus in a Sex-Dependent Manner. Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 2017 Jan;42(2):408-418 | 2017 |
| Cason AM, Kohtz A, Aston-Jones G, Role of Corticotropin Releasing Factor 1 Signaling in Cocaine Seeking during Early Extinction in Female and Male Rats. PloS one, 2016;11(6):e0158577 | 2016 |
| Ye X, Kohtz A, Pollonini G, Riccio A, Alberini CM, Insulin Like Growth Factor 2 Expression in the Rat Brain Both in Basal Condition and following Learning Predominantly Derives from the Maternal Allele. PloS one, 2015;10(10):e0141078 | 2015 |
| Stern SA, Kohtz AS, Pollonini G, Alberini CM, Enhancement of memories by systemic administration of insulin-like growth factor II. Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, 2014 Aug;39(9):2179-90 | 2014 |
| Frye CA, Walf AA, Kohtz AS, Zhu Y, Progesterone-facilitated lordosis of estradiol-primed mice is attenuated by knocking down expression of membrane progestin receptors in the midbrain. Steroids, 2014 Mar;81:17-25 | 2014 |
| Frye CA, Walf AA, Kohtz AS, Zhu Y, Membrane progestin receptors in the midbrain ventral tegmental area are required for progesterone-facilitated lordosis of rats. Hormones and behavior, 2013 Aug;64(3):539-45 | 2013 |
| Kohtz AS, Frye CA, Dissociating behavioral, autonomic, and neuroendocrine effects of androgen steroids in animal models. Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.), 2012;829:397-431 | 2012 |
| Kohtz AS, Paris JJ, Frye CA, Low doses of cocaine decrease, and high doses increase, anxiety-like behavior and brain progestogen levels among intact rats. Hormones and behavior, 2010 Apr;57(4-5):474-80 | 2010 |
Editorial | |
| Brown PL, Georgiou P, Kohtz AS, Maldonado-Devincci AM, Editorial: Sex as a biological variable in the neurocircuitry of motivated behavior. Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience, 2026;20:1802383 | 2026 |
Presentations
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Hippocampal Kcnt1 Drives Female-Specific Cocaine Seeking on ED1: From Sex-Biased Transcriptomics to a Targetable Therapeutic Pathway, Mississippi IDeA/EPSCoR Conference, Hattiesburg | 07/2026 |
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Hippocampal Kcnt1 Drives Female-Specific Cocaine Seeking on ED1: From Sex-Biased Transcriptomics to a Targetable Therapeutic Pathway, CPDD, Portland, Oregon | 06/2026 |
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Hippocampal Kcnt1 Drives Female-Specific Cocaine Seeking on ED1: From Sex-Biased Transcriptomics to a Targetable Therapeutic Pathway, National IDeA Symposium of Biomedical Research Excellence, Bethesda, MD | 06/2026 |
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Dorsal Hippocampus to the Medial Prefrontal Cortex Projections Drive Cocaine-Seeking Persistence in Male and Female Rats, College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Portland, OR | 06/2026 |
| Regional Invited Seminars/Lectures, Breaking the Cycle: Ovarian Hormones, Cocaine Demand, and Oxytocin Therapy., Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA | 11/2025 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Sex Differences in Dorsal Hippocampus Adrenergic Signaling: Insights into Context-Induced Relapse., Mississippi Academy of Sciences, Biloxi, MS, Biloxi, MS | 03/2025 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Direct Dorsal Hippocampus to Prelimbic Cortex Projections Drive Cocaine Extinction Resistance in Female Rats, Mississippi Academy of Sciences meeting (MAS), Biloxi, MS | 03/2025 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, KCNT1 Influences Cocaine-Seeking Behavior in Female Rats on Day 1 of Extinction., Mississippi Academy of Sciences Conference, Biloxi, MS | 03/2025 |
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Sex Differences in Contextual Cocaine Seeking Behavior are Driven by Noradrenergic Signaling to the Dorsal Hippocampus., The College for Problems on Drug Dependence, Montreal, Quebec, Canada | 06/2024 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Assessing sex as a biological variable in a rodent model of addiction., Psychiatry Grand Rounds, UMMC | 05/2024 |
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Estrus Cycle Effects on Economic Demand for Cocaine., International Behavioral Neuroscience Society, Niagara Falls, ON | 06/2023 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, The role of locus-coeruleus hippocampal neurocircuitry in addiction., Featured Faculty Seminar Series., UMMC | 11/2022 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Assessing sex as a biological variable in a rodent model of addiction., Psychiatry Grand Rounds, UMMC | 05/2022 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Sex Differences in Addiction: Motivation or Memories?, UMMC | 07/2021 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Sex Differences in Addiction: Motivation or Memories?, Rutgers University - Newark | 04/2021 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Sex Differences in Addiction: Motivation or Memories?, University of Arizona | 04/2021 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Can Chemicals in the Environment Prime Susceptibility to Addiction Behaviors?, SURF Program Seminar Series., Rutgers University | 08/2020 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Developmental Exposure to the Organophosphate Chlorpyrifos in the Rat: Implications for Addiction and Psychiatric Disorders, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Rutgers University | 02/2020 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Sex Differences in Addiction: Motivation or Memories?, Legacy Health Research Institute | 10/2019 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Sex Differences in Addiction: Memory or Motivation?, Neuroscience Department Seminar Series., SUNY Downstate, Brooklyn, NY. | 09/2019 |
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Serotonin and norepinephrine signaling in dorsal CA1 drive sex differences in persistent cocaine-seeking., Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA | 11/2018 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Chlorpyrifos influences sex differences in hippocampal monoamine signaling to drive cocaine seeking behavior., Rutgers Toxicology Department Seminar Series, Rutgers University | 05/2017 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Sex differences in hippocampal monoamine signaling drives cocaine seeking behavior., Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ., Rutgers Toxicology Department Seminar Series | 10/2016 |
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Cocaine seeking during initial abstinence is driven by hippocampal β-adrenergic and serotonergic receptors in a sex-dependent manner., Organization for the Study of Sex Differences, Philadelphia, PA. | 05/2016 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Stress Circuits and Sex Differences in Cocaine Seeking., Newark-New Brunswick Post-Doctoral and Faculty Exchange Seminar Series., Rutgers University, Newark, NJ. | 03/2016 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Stress Circuits and Sex Differences in Cocaine Seeking., Neuroconnections, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ. | 2016 |
| Regional Invited Seminars/Lectures, Impact of environmental stressors on autonomic, neuroendocrine, and affective responding in rats, mice, and people: Implications of epigenetics?, North-Eastern Undergraduate/graduate Research Organization for Neuroscience, Hunter College, CUNY, NY. | 04/2010 |
Honors, Awards, and Recognition
| Silver OAVCR Excellence Award, University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2025 |
| Bronze OAVCR Excellence Award, University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2024 |
| Travel Award, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology | 2019 |
| Travel Award, CRAN Mentored K Awardee Career Development Meeting | 2019 |
| Regional Post-Doctoral Nominee, Blavatnik | 2019 |
| Travel Award, International Steroids and Nervous System Meeting | 2019 |
| Honararium, Society of Toxicology reproductive and developmental toxicology specialty section | 2018 |
| Travel Award, Organization for the Study of Sex Differences | 2016 |
| Poster Award, International Steroids and Nervous System Meeting | 2011 |
| Travel Award, International Steroids and Nervous System Meeting | 2011 |
| Travel Award, Faculty for Undergraduate Research Society for Neuroscience | 2009 |
| Presidential Award for Undergraduate Research, SUNY at Albany | 2009 |
| Honorable Mention Provost Award, SUNY at Albany | 2009 |
| Mentored Undergraduate Research Award, SUNY at Albany | 2009 |
Professional Membership and Service
| College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Member | 2026 - Present |
| Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience, Member | 2022 - Present |
| Society of Toxicology, Member | 2017 - Present |
| American Psychology Association, Member | 2009 - Present |
| Society for Neuroscience, Member | 2008 - Present |
| Organization for the Study of Sex Differences, Member | 2008 - Present |
| NorthEast Under/graduate Research Organization for Neuroscience, Member | 2008 - 2011 |
| Sigma Xi, Member | 2008 - Present |
| International Behavioral Neuroscience Society, Member | 2008 - Present |
| International Steroids and Nervous System, Member | 2008 - Present |
Committee Service
| Women's Psychiatric Health Research Group, Steering Committee Member | 2026 - Present |
| Program in Neuroscience - Executive Committee, Member | 2025 - Present |
| Program in Neuroscience Seminar Series, Chair | 2024 - Present |
| Program in Neuroscience - Admissions Committee, Member | 2023 - 2026 |
Community Service
| Organization on the Study of Sex Differences, Programmatic Reviewer | 09/2025 - 05/2026 |
| SciWomen Rutgers, Presenter | 05/2017 - Present |
| Brain Awareness Week - Albany, NY, Coordinator | 2009 - 05/2011 |
| Graduate Women in Science (GWIS), National Fellowship Program Committee Reviewer | 2008 - 2020 |
| Middle Earth Peer Counseling - SUNY at Albany, Counselor | 09/2007 - 05/2009 |
| Leave Out ViolencE, Counselor | 09/2001 - 05/2005 |
Other Service
| Frontiers in Neuroscience/Frontiers in Psychiatry, Guest Editor: Special Issue on drugs of abuse and their endocrine effects | 09/2025 - Present |
| Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, Motivation and Reward | 09/2025 - Present |
| Frontiers in Neuroscience, Guest Editor: Special Issue on Sex Differences in Motivated Behaviors. | 09/2024 - 12/2025 |
| Addiction Neuroscience, Guest Editor: Special Issue in Endocrinology, Sex Differences, and Addiction | 09/2022 - 12/2023 |
| Frontiers in Psychiatry | |
| International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology | |
| Frontiers In Integrative Neuroscience | |
| Nature Communications | |
| Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior | |
| Neuropharmacology | |
| Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology | |
| Behavioural Brain Research | |
| Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience | |
| Biochemical Pharmacology | |
| Frontiers in Molecular Biology |
Teaching Experience
| NSCI 701, Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Fundamentals of Neuroscience; Methods in Neuropharmacology | Spring 2026 |
| NSCI 791, Graduate, Course, Course Director, Second Year Rotations | Annual 2026 |
| NSCI 701, Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Fundamentals of Neuroscience; Pharmacology of Drugs of Abuse - Brain Reward Mechanisms and Stimulants | Spring 2026 |
| NSCI 708, Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Topics in Addiction; Endocrine dysfunction and opioid use | Summer 2026 |
| NSCI 708, Graduate, Lecture, Topics in Addiction; Endocrine dysfunction and cocaine use | Summer 2026 |
| NSCI 708, Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Topics in Addiction; Sex differences in addiction | Summer 2026 |
| NSCI 718, Graduate, Course, Course Director, Neuroscience Seminar Series | Annual 2026 |
| NSCI 701, Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Fundamentals of Neuroscience; Introduction to Synaptic Transmission | Fall 2025 |
| NSCI 701, Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Fundamentals of Neuroscience; Introduction to Neuroanatomy | Fall 2025 |
| NSCI 701, Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Fundamentals of Neuroscience; Pharmacology of Drugs of Abuse - Brain Reward Mechanisms and Stimulants | Spring 2025 |
| NSCI 791, Graduate, Course, Course Director, Second Year Laboratory Rotations | Annual 2025 |
| NSCI 701, Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Fundamentals of Neuroscience; Introduction to Synaptic Transmission | Fall 2024 |
| NSCI 701, Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Fundamentals of Neuroscience; Introduction to Neuroanatomy | Fall 2024 |
| NSCI 701, Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Fundamentals of Neuroscience; Pharmacology of Drugs of Abuse - Brain Reward Mechanisms and Stimulants | Spring 2024 |
| NSCI 701, Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Fundamentals of Neuroscience; Introduction to Synaptic Transmission | Fall 2023 |
| NSCI 701, Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Fundamentals of Neuroscience; Resting Membrane Potentials | Fall 2023 |
| NSCI 701, Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Fundamentals of Neuroscience; Introduction to Neuroanatomy | Fall 2023 |
| NSCI 701, Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Fundamentals of Neuroscience; Pharmacology of Drugs of Abuse - Brain Reward Mechanisms and Stimulants | Spring 2023 |
| NSCI 701, Graduate, Lecture, Lecturer, Fundamentals of Neuroscience; Introduction to Synaptic Transmission | Fall 2022 |
Directed Student Learning
| Dissertation Committee Chair, Advised: Ariel Cox | 2026 - Present |
| Research Advisor, Advised: Megan Stempkovski | 2026 - Present |
| Directed Individual/Independent Study, Advised: J. Issac Watts | 2026 - 2026 |
| Dissertation Committee Member, Advised: Garner Fincher | 2025 - Present |
| Dissertation Committee Chair, Advised: Savanna Julian | 2025 - Present |
| Research Advisor, Advised: A'Kaychia Lowery | 2024 - 2025 |
| Research Advisor, Advised: Mary Grace Cochran | 2024 - 2026 |
| Supervised Research, Gestational chlorpyrifos exposure causes marble burying deficits. Advised: Mary Grace Cochran | 2024 - 2025 |
| Research Advisor, Advised: Ariel Cox | 2024 - 2026 |
| Dissertation Committee Member, Uncertain Reinforcement and Punishment in Rhesus Monkeys and Rats Self-administering Food and Cocaine Advised: William Doyle | 2023 - 2025 |
| Research Advisor, Advised: Elizabeth Hawkins | 2022 - 2024 |
| Undergraduate Honors Thesis, Gestational chlorpyrifos exposure causes greater cognitive impairment in males than in females. Advised: Beau Miller | 2022 - 2025 |
| Undergraduate Honors Thesis, Oxytocin attenuates the acute and chronic endocrine disrupting effects of cocaine in female rats. Advised: Carlee Cockrell | 2022 - 2025 |
| Undergraduate Honors Thesis, Advised: Tara Krishna | 2019 - 2022 |
| Undergraduate Honors Thesis, Advised: Dennis Kim | 2018 - 2020 |
| Undergraduate Honors Thesis, Advised: Belle Lin | 2015 - 2018 |