William Wright is a PhD candidate in neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh. He received his BS in biology from Wofford College where he conducted undergraduate research examining the effects of antidepressants on food palatability and the role of NMDA receptors in feeding behavior. During an REU at the University of Kentucky, he studied the effects of alcohol on neurogenesis in rats. Wright has received several academic awards and scholarships and has presented his research at multiple conferences.

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Curriculum Vitae
William J. Wright
EDUCATION
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
PhD. Neuroscience, 2015-2020 (expected)
Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC
B.S. Biology with concentration in Neuroscience, 2011- 2015
Magna Cum Laude, Overall GPA – 3.81, Science GPA – 3.97
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
REU Summer Training in Alcohol Research (STAR) Program, May – July, 2014
One of eleven fellows
Under Dr. Kimberly Nixon, PhD.
ACADEMIC AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS
REU Summer Training in Alcohol Research(STAR) grant, 2014
NIAAA training grant awarded to the University of Kentucky for the REU STAR program
Awarded to 11 undergraduate students each summer over the course of five summers
Grant: R25AA022823
Old Main Scholarship, 2011 – Present
Awarded based on leadership, academic achievement, and character
$20,000 - $15,000
South Carolina Palmetto Fellow Scholarship, 2011- Present
Awarded to students who achieve SAT over 1200 (ACT 27) or above, achieve a cumulative 3.50
GPA and rank in top 6% of graduating class
$10,000
Harry D. Dobbs Scholarship, 2012-Present
Awarded based on academic performance to students majoring in biology
$1,000
Dean’s List, Wofford College, Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2014
Awarded to students who achieve a GPA of 3.6 or greater for a given semester
Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll, 2011-2012, 2012-2013, 2013-2014
Awarded to NCAA Division I Athletes in the Southern Conference who achieve a 3.0 GPA in an
academic year.

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Southern Conference Commissioner’s Medal, 2012-2013, 2013-2014
Awarded to NCAA Division I Athletes in the Southern Conference who achieve a 3.5 GPA in an
academic year
RESEARCHEXPERIENCE
Wofford College, September, 2014 – May, 2015
Undergraduate Researcher; Advisor: Dr. David W. Pittman, PhD & Dr. Sarah E. Hostein, PhD.
Performing research in the psychology department of Wofford College examining the
effects antidepressant medications have on palatability of foods. Examining specifically
the parabrachial nucleus.
University of Kentucky, May 2014 – July 2014
Undergraduate Research Fellow; Advisor: Dr. Kimberly Nixon, PhD.
Performed research exploring the effects of alcohol on neurodegeneration and
neurogenesis in the hippocampus of rats. Conducted a study examining the effects of the
TSPO selective ligand Ro5-4864 on alcohol induced neurodegeneration and
neurogenesis. Also participated in other ongoing studies in the Nixon lab.
Wofford College, September, 2013 – April, 2014
Undergraduate Researcher; Advisor: Dr. Stacey Hettes, PhD.
Performed research in the biology department at Wofford College examining the role of
NMDA receptor activation in the lateral hypothalamus in the regulation of feeding and
hunting behavior in rats.
Experimental Techniques
Transcranial microinjections
Intraparitoneal injections
Intragastric gavage
Subcutaneous injections
Immunohistochemistry
Histological analysis
Light and florescent microscopy
Vibratome
Euthanasia
Rapid Decapitation
Transcardial perfusion
Blood sampling (tail)
Animal handling (adult and adolescent rats)
Ethogram
Statistical data analysis
TALKS
William Wright* (2014) Enhancement of Hippocampal Reactive Neurogenesis during Alcohol
Abstinence. Wofford College Bi-annual Science Research Symposium. Talk delivered at
Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC, December 2014.

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William Wright* (2014), The Effects of Ro5-4864 on Alochol-Induced Neurodegeneration and
Reactive Neurogenesis. University of Kentucky, College of Pharmacy Annual Summer
Research Symposium. Talk delivered at University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, July, 2014.
William Wright*, Savannah Mack*, Maria Davenport*, Stacey Hettes (2013), The Hunger
Games: Catching Crickets, Suppression of predatory hunting in rats. Wofford College Bi-annual
Science Research Symposium. Talk delivered at Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC, December,
2013.
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
Candice E. van Skike, William J. Wright*, Kimberly Nixon (2015) Effects of the TSPO Ligand
Ro5-4864 on Hippocampal Cell Proliferation in a Rat Model of Alcoholism. Research Society on
Alcoholism Abstracts. Poster to be presented at Research Society on Alcoholism annual meeting
in San Antonio, T.X., June 2015.
William Wright*, Maria Davenport*, Stacey Hettes (2014) Lateral Hypothalamic Glutamate
Receptors Mediate Predation of Crickets by Sprague-Dawley Rats. Association of Southeastern
Biologists Abstracts, P191. Poster presentation delivered at the Association of Southeastern
Biologists meeting, Spartanburg, S.C., April 2014.
*indicates undergraduate researcher
RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE
Physiology Teaching Assistant, Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC, September 2014-December
2014
To assist instructor with running lab sessions, grading of assignments, and be available for
students needing help with coursework.
Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, Spartanburg, SC, January 2014
Shadowed several different doctors in various fields at Spartanburg Regional throughout the
month of January.
Mary Black Health System, Spartanburg, SC, January 2014
Shadowed several different doctors in various surgical fields at Mary Black throughout the
month of January
VOLUNTEER WORK
Special Olympic Volunteer, Anderson SC, 2009-2011
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Email: wrightwj@email.wofford.edu

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Cell Phone: 864-965-8684