Stephen Higgins
Professor and Virginia H. Donaldson Chair in Translational Science
Director, Vermont Center on Behavior and Health
1 South Prospect
FAHC-UHC Room 3100
Burlington, VT 05401
United States
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Behavioral Pharmacology and Drug Abuse, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 1983-1985
- Ph.D., Development and Child Psychology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS,1983
- M.A., Developmental and Child Psychology, University of Kansas, 1982
- M.S., Counseling, Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, PA, 1978
- B.A., Psychology, Shippensburg University, 1975
Areas of expertise
Behavioral pharmacology, Behavior change, health, and health disparities.
BIO
Stephen Higgins' research uses the concepts and methods of behavioral economics and behavioral pharmacology to investigate tobacco, illicit drugs, and other health-related risk behaviors in vulnerable populations. Projects focus on examining mechanisms underpinning vulnerability to tobacco and other risk behaviors, treatment interventions to reduce them and improve health outcomes, and regulatory science. These projects are supported by P20 and P50 center grants from the NIH’s National Institute on General Medical Sciences, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, respectively, and an R01 research grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
Courses
- Course Co-Director "Research Seminar in Human Behavioral Pharmacology" (16 hours per semester) for psychology graduate students and postdoctoral fellows
- Course Co-Director "Behavior Analysis of Drug Dependence" or “Behavioral Economics of Health” (45 hours every 3 years) for psychology graduate students
- Clinical supervisor of pre-doctoral and postdoctoral fellows in the behavior therapy of drug abuse.
- Member of Ph.D. and Master's Theses Committees for graduate students in the Department of Psychology
Publications
Awards and Achievements
- 2017 College on Problems of Drug Dependence Award on Mentorship in Addictions Research
- 2016-present Fellow, Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research
- 2014 Virginia H. Donaldson Endowed Professorship in Translational Science, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Vermont
- 2011 Brady-Schuster Award in recognition of outstanding behavioral science research in psychopharmacology and substance abuse. Division of Psychopharmacology and Substance Abuse (Div. 28), American Psychological Association
- 2010 Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award, Dept. of Applied Behavioral Science, University of Kansas
- 2008 G. Stanley Hall Lecture, Distinguished Contributions to Addiction, American Psychological Association (APA)
- 2008-present Fellow, Association for Behavior Analysis International
- 2008-present Fellow, College on Problems of Drug Dependence
- 2007-2008 President, College on Problems of Drug Dependence
- 2001-2007 MERIT (Method to Extend Research in Time) Award, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health
- 2001 Don Hake Translational Research Award, American Psychological Association, Division of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior (Div. 25)
Bio
Stephen Higgins' research uses the concepts and methods of behavioral economics and behavioral pharmacology to investigate tobacco, illicit drugs, and other health-related risk behaviors in vulnerable populations. Projects focus on examining mechanisms underpinning vulnerability to tobacco and other risk behaviors, treatment interventions to reduce them and improve health outcomes, and regulatory science. These projects are supported by P20 and P50 center grants from the NIH’s National Institute on General Medical Sciences, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, respectively, and an R01 research grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
Courses
- Course Co-Director "Research Seminar in Human Behavioral Pharmacology" (16 hours per semester) for psychology graduate students and postdoctoral fellows
- Course Co-Director "Behavior Analysis of Drug Dependence" or “Behavioral Economics of Health” (45 hours every 3 years) for psychology graduate students
- Clinical supervisor of pre-doctoral and postdoctoral fellows in the behavior therapy of drug abuse.
- Member of Ph.D. and Master's Theses Committees for graduate students in the Department of Psychology
Publications
Awards and Achievements
- 2017 College on Problems of Drug Dependence Award on Mentorship in Addictions Research
- 2016-present Fellow, Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research
- 2014 Virginia H. Donaldson Endowed Professorship in Translational Science, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Vermont
- 2011 Brady-Schuster Award in recognition of outstanding behavioral science research in psychopharmacology and substance abuse. Division of Psychopharmacology and Substance Abuse (Div. 28), American Psychological Association
- 2010 Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award, Dept. of Applied Behavioral Science, University of Kansas
- 2008 G. Stanley Hall Lecture, Distinguished Contributions to Addiction, American Psychological Association (APA)
- 2008-present Fellow, Association for Behavior Analysis International
- 2008-present Fellow, College on Problems of Drug Dependence
- 2007-2008 President, College on Problems of Drug Dependence
- 2001-2007 MERIT (Method to Extend Research in Time) Award, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health
- 2001 Don Hake Translational Research Award, American Psychological Association, Division of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior (Div. 25)