The Kolber Lab at The University of Texas at Dallas is focused on the study of pain and stress.

In the U.S., more than 115 million adults suffer from chronic pain. Often, successful management of pain involves the treatment of other conditions such as depression and anxiety disorders. The Kolber Lab tries to understand the common mechanisms of pain and psychiatric illness. This is done by integrating cutting-edge behavioral, pharmacological, electrophysiological, and molecular techniques to understand the mechanisms of stress and pain. We also strive to apply this knowledge in translational studies in human volunteers and pain patients.

Ben Kolber serves as an Associate Professor and Director of the Systems and Cellular Neuroscience PhD program in the Department of Neuroscience. He is also co-Director of the Enhancing NeuroScience Undergraduate Research Experience (ENSURE) undergraduate program. Dr. Kolber came to UT Dallas in 2020 after starting his faculty career at Duquesne University (Pittsburgh, PA) in 2011. Dr. Kolber has over 20 years of experience doing neuroscience research.

His graduate work with Dr. Louis Muglia, MD, PhD looked at the role of the endocrine stress response in the modulation of stress adaptation, depression, and anxiety. His post-doctoral work with Dr. Robert Gereau IV, PhD focused on understanding the role of the amygdala in the modulation of acute and chronic pain. Dr. Kolber also has extensive experience teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels. His teaching interests focus on teaching neuroscience, endocrinology, physiology, and utilizing innovative teaching techniques in the classroom.