Prof Stephen Higgins

Professor of Psychology, Professor of Psychiatry

University of Vermont

Biography

Dr. Higgins is Director of UVM’s Vermont Center on Behavior and Health, and Principle Investigator with three NIH grants on the general topic of behavior and health. He is the Virginia H. Donaldson Endowed Professor of Translational Science in the Department of Psychological Science and serves as Vice Chair of Psychiatry. He has held many national scientific leadership positions, including terms as President of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence and the American Psychological Association’s Division on Psychopharmacology and Substance Abuse. He is the author of more than 450 journal articles and invited book chapters and editor of a dozen volumes and therapist manuals in the area of behavior and health.

Dr 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.