Academic Information

BSc, 2002
Department of Psychology
Arizona State University

MA, 2006
Clinical Psychology
University of Colorado Denver

Research Interests
I am interested in gender differences in vulnerability to addiction. Currently, I use an animal model of prenatal ethanol exposure to study a population with alterations in the stress response and an increased propensity for addiction. Specifically, I am investigating how activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis interacts with the dopaminergic reward pathway, and how this may lead to an increase in vulnerability to addiction.

Publications

• Allen, R.A., Uban, K. A., Atwood, E. M., Albeck, D. S., &Yamamoto, D.J., (2007). Continuous intracerebroventricular infusion of the competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, LY235959, facilitates escalation of cocaine self-administration and increases break point for cocaine in Sprague-Dawley rats; Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2007 Nov; 88 (1): 82-8....abstract on PubMed

Abstracts and Presentations

• Uban, K.A., Sliwowska, J.H., Galea, L.A.M. & Weinberg, J., (2007). The Effect of Prenatal Ethanol Exposure on Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Modulation of Stress in the Female and Male Rats. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts (San Diego , CA, 2007).
• Uban, K.A., Sliwowska, J.H., Galea, L.A.M. & Weinberg, J., (2007). The Effect of Prenatal Ethanol Exposure on Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Modulation of Stress in the Female Rat. Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Conference Abstracts (Monterey, CA).
• Allen, R.A., Uban, K. A., Atwood, B. (2006). Continuous intracerebroventricular administration of the competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, LY235959, facilitates escalation of cocaine self-administration and leads to increases in break point when rats self-administer cocaine in long-access schedules of reinforcement. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts (Atlanta, GA, 2006).
• Benotsch, E.G., Nettles, C.D., & Uban, K. (2006). Methamphetamine use and high-risk sexual behavior in men who have sex with men. American Psychological Society Convention (New York, NY).
• Uban, K.A ., Nettles, C.D., Benotsch, E.G., Rosen, A., Martin, K.E., (2006).  Time perspective and substance use in men who have sex with men. Annals of Behavioral Medicine. Vol. 31: 151 (San Francisco, CA).
• Uban, K.A ., Benotsch, E.G., Nettles, C.D., Martin, K.E., & Rosen, A., (2006).  Substance use and perceived risk for contracting HIV in men who have sex with men. American Psychosomatic Society Abstracts ( Denver, CO).
• Nettles, C.D., Benotsch, E.G., Uban, K ., Rosen, A., & Martin, K.E., (2006). Fatalistic time perspective and sexual risk in HIV+ men who have sex with men. American Psychosomatic Society Abstracts (Denver, CO).
• Browning, M., Rosen, A., Benotsch, E.G., Nettles, C.D., Uban, K., & Martin, K. (2006). Body image and sexual risk behaviors in men who have sex with men. American Psychosomatic Society Abstracts (Denver ,CO).
• Martin, K.E, Benotsch, E.G., Rosen, A., Nettles, C.D., & Uban, K. (2006). Social awkwardness and HIV risk behaviors in men who use the Internet to find sexual partners. American Psychosomatic Society Abstracts (Denver, CO).

Other Pursuits and Interests
In addition to pursuing a career in addiction research, I also love teaching. Outside of academia, I fill my time with skiing, concerts, hiking, surfing, beach volleyball, piano, dancing - and my favorite of all, hanging out with family and friends.

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