Four faculty members in the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology have received promotions, and one has received an award of tenure, effective Oct. 1, 2026.
“Promotion and tenure are significant milestones that reflect a faculty member’s sustained excellence in scholarship, teaching, clinical care, and service. These achievements recognize the impact our faculty have made within the department, the university, and their respective fields,” said Adrienne C. Lahti, M.D., Heman E. Drummond Professor and Chair of the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology. “I am proud to congratulate these outstanding faculty members and look forward to their continued contributions to our mission of advancing mental health through research, education, and patient care.”
Congratulations to the following faculty members:
Andrew Hardaway, Ph.D.
Andrew Hardaway, Ph.D.
Promoted to associate professor
Andrew Hardaway, Ph.D., joined the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology in 2019 and holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Neurobiology. He earned his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Vanderbilt University and leads a research program focused on the neuronal and molecular mechanisms that govern motivation, taste, palatability, and feeding behavior. Using advanced neural circuit approaches, including optogenetics, chemogenetics, and biosensors, Hardaway’s laboratory investigates the brain pathways that regulate eating behavior with the goal of developing new treatments for obesity and eating disorders. He also holds research appointments with the Civitan International Research Center, Comprehensive Neuroscience Center, and Nutrition Obesity Research Center, contributing to UAB’s multidisciplinary efforts in neuroscience and metabolic health.
Elizabeth Lucas, Ph.D.
Elizabeth Lucas, Ph.D.
Award of tenure
Elizabeth Lucas, Ph.D., joined the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology in July 2022. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from UAB and completed postdoctoral training in neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Prior to returning to UAB, Lucas served as an assistant professor at North Carolina State University, where she established an independent, federally funded research program. Her research focuses on the molecular, cellular, and circuit-level mechanisms that contribute to sex differences in susceptibility to post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety-related conditions. Lucas also holds appointments with several interdisciplinary research centers at UAB, including the Comprehensive Neuroscience Center and Center for Clinical and Translational Science.
Minae Niwa, Ph.D.
Minae Niwa, Ph.D.
Promoted to professor
Minae Niwa, Ph.D., joined the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology in 2019 and currently holds secondary appointments in Neurobiology and Biomedical Engineering. Niwa earned her Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Nagoya University and completed postdoctoral training in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She is also an affiliated scientist with the Comprehensive Neuroscience Center and the Civitan International Research Center. Through her interdisciplinary research program, Niwa advances understanding of the cellular and molecular processes that contribute to brain disorders, helping drive innovations in neuroscience and mental health research.
Alison Thomas, Ph.D.
Alison Thomas, Ph.D.
Promoted to associate professor
Alison Thomas, Psy.D., joined UAB in 2018 as an assistant professor in the Division of Public Psychiatry. She earned both her Doctor of Psychology and Master of Psychology degrees in Clinical Psychology from Suffolk University. She serves as clinical director of the Community Psychiatry Program. As a clinical psychologist and educator, Thomas contributes to UAB’s mission of advancing behavioral health care, research, and training, with a focus on serving individuals and communities through public-sector psychiatry initiatives.
Abhishek Wadhwa, M.D.
Abhishek Wadhwa, M.D.
Promoted to associate professor
Abhishek Wadhwa, MBBS, joined the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology in 2021 as an assistant professor in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He earned his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. As a child and adolescent psychiatrist, Wadhwa is dedicated to advancing mental health care for children, adolescents, and families through clinical service, education, and academic scholarship.