Wei-Lun Sun, Ph.D.

Dr. Sun joined Department of Psychological Science at UNG-Dahlonega in the fall of 2020. He has a doctoral degree in Biopsychology and Behavioral Neuroscience from City University of New York. He received his post-doctoral research trainings at University of Chicago, Medical University of South Carolina, and University of South Carolina. His research focuses on the behavioral and molecular changes after exposure to drugs of addiction. He is currently conducting nicotine studies in mice with undergraduate students. He hopes to expand his research into human study, and bring more undergraduate research projects in the future.

• Ph.D., Biopsychology and Behavioral Neuroscience, The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York, 2009
• M.S., Behavioral Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 2001
• B.S., Psychology, Kaohsiung Medical College, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 1999

Sun, W.L., Qiuzon, P.M., Yuan, Y., Strauss, M.J., McCain R.Jr., Zhan, C.G., Zhu, J. (2019) Mutational effects of human dopamine transporter at tyrosine88, lysine92, and histidine547 on basal and HIV-1 Tat-inhibited dopamine transport. Sci. Rep. 9 (1): 3843.

Sun, W.L., Qiuzon, P.M., Yuan, Y., Zhang, W., Ananthan, S., Zhan, C.G., Zhu, J. (2017) Allosteric modulatory effects of SRI-20041 and SRI-30827 on cocainr and HIV-1 Tat protein binding to human dopamine transporter. Sci. Rep. 7 (1): 3694.

Sun W.L. *, Zhou, L. *, Weierstall, K.M., Minerly, A.C., Weiner, J., Jenab, S., Quinones-Jenab, V. (2016) Sex differences in behavioral and PKA cascade responses to repeated cocaine administration. Psychopharmacology 233: 3527-3536. (*equal contributor)

Sun, W.L., Zhou, L, Nazarian, A., Quonines-Jenab, V., Jenab, S. (2015) Acute cocaine differentially induces PKA phosphorylation substrates in male and female rats. J. Addict. Res. Ther. 6: 236.

McGinty, J.F., Zelek-Molik, A., Sun, W.L. (2015) Cocaine self-administration causes signaling deficits in corticostriatal circuitry that are reversed by BDNF in early withdrawal. Brain Res. 1628: 82-87.

Sun, W.L., Eisenstein, S.A., Zelek-Molik, A., McGinty, J.F. (2014) A single BDNF infusion into the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex attenuates cocaine self-administration-induced phosphorylation of synapsin in the nucleus accumbens during early withdrawal. Int. J. Neuropsychopharmacol. 18 (1): pyu049.

Sun, W.L., Coleman, N.T., Zelek-Molik, A., Barry, S.M., Whitfield, T.W. Jr., McGinty, J.F. (2014) Relapse to cocaine-seeking after abstinence is regulated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase A in the prefrontal cortex. Addict. Biol. 19: 77-86.

Sun, W.L., Zelek-Molik, A., McGinty, J.F. (2013) Short and long access to cocaine self-administration activates tyrosine phosphatase STEP and attenuates GluN expression but differentially regulates GluA expression in the prefrontal cortex. Psychopharmacology 229: 603-613.

McGinty, J.F., Bache, A.J., Coleman, N.T., Sun, W.L. (2011) The role of BDNF/TrkB signaling in acute amphetamine-induced locomotor activity and opioid peptide gene expression in the rat dorsal striatum. Front. Syst. Neurosci. 5: 60.

Sun, W.L., Festa, E.D., Jenab, S., Quinones-Jenab, V. (2010) Sex differences in dopamine D2-like receptor-mediated G-protein activation in the medial prefrontal cortex after cocaine. Ethn. Dis. Winter; 20 (1 suppl 1): S1-88-91.

Sun, W.L., Luine, V.N., Zhou, L., Wu, H.B., Weierstall, K.M., Jenab, S., Quinones-Jenab, V. (2010) Acute progesterone treatment impairs spatial working memory in intact male and female rats. Ethn. Dis. Winter; 20 (1 suppl 1): S1-83-87.

Sun, W.L. *, Ren, Z. *, Jiao, H., Zhang, D., Kong, H., Wang, X., Xu, M. (2010). Dopamine D1 and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and extracellular signal-regulated kinase mediate neuronal morphological changes induced by repeated cocaine administration. Neuroscience 168: 48-60. (*equal contributor)

Sun, W.L. *, Zhou, L., Quinones-Jenab, V., Jenab, S. (2009) Cocaine effects on dopamine and NMDA receptors interactions in the striatum of Fischer rats. Brain Research Bulletin 80: 377-381. (*corresponding author)

Sun, W.L. *, Zhou, L., Hazim, R., Quinones-Jenab, V., Jenab, S. (2008) Effects of dopamine and NMDA receptors on cocaine-induced Fos expression in the striatum of Fischer rats. Brain Res. 1243: 1-9. (*corresponding author)

Sun, W.L., Zhou, L., Hazim, R., Quinones-Jenab, V., Jenab, S. (2007) Effects of acute cocaine on ERK and DARPP-32 phosphorylation pathways in the caudate-putamen of Fischer rats. Brain Res. 1178:12-19.

Sun, W.L., Quizon, P.M., Zhu, J. (2016) Chapter one. Molecular mechanism: ERK signaling, drug addiction, and behavioral effects. Prog. Mol. Biol. Transl. Sci. 137: 1-40. In S. Rahman (Ed.) The Molecular Basis of Drug Addiction. Cambridge, MA. Academic Press.