David A. MacQueen

Dr. MacQueen is a licensed clinical psychologist and an Associate Professor in the UNCW Department of Psychology, where he serves as core clinical faculty and as a Neuroscience & Behavior faculty member. His research program focuses on translational behavioral pharmacology, digital health, and the treatment of problematic substance use, particularly in the context of comorbid psychiatric conditions.

Education

B.S. in Business Administration, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 2006
M.A. in Psychology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 2009
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, University of South Florida, 2015
Post-doctoral fellowship in Clinical Research, UCSD & VA San Diego Healthcare System, 2015-2018

Specialization in Teaching

Graduate courses taught:
Advanced Psychopathology
Clinical Psychopharmacology
Chemical Dependence

Undergraduate courses taught:
Brain and Behavior
Drugs and Behavior
Translational Neuropharmacology
Psychopathology

Research Interests

Dr. MacQueen's laboratory is focused on translational behavioral pharmacology. As such, the laboratory is comprised of space for operant training with rodent models, an experimental space for human participant testing, and dedicated clinical research space at a local substance use treatment facility. Three primary research themes are pursued in these spaces:

1 - The use of biometric data, passively captured by wearable sensors, to improve the assessment and treatment of problematic substance use
2 - The development of olfactory-based cross-species tasks for improved assessment of drug effects on cognition
3 - The assessment of olfactory abilities and their relationship with psychiatric illness and substance use

Professional Service

Dr. MacQueen has served on the editorial board for Neuropharmacology, and reviews manuscripts for a variety of other journals including Psychopharmacology, Drug & Alcohol Dependence, Experimental & Clinical Psychopharmacology, and Nicotine & Tobacco Research. He has also served on committees within APA Division 6 (Society for Behavioral Neuroscience and Comparative Psychology), and as a scientific review group (SRG) member for grants submitted to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Community Engagement

Dr. MacQueen is integrated with community efforts to address problematic substance use in Southeastern North Carolina.

Honors & Awards

Discere Aude Award for undergraduate mentorship, 2024