UBC Psychology recently welcomed new faculty member Dr. Zachary Pennington.
Dr. Zachary Pennington, a new assistant professor in UBC Psychology’s behavioural neuroscience area, joined the department in January 2026. Dr. Pennington is also a member of the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health.
Dr. Pennington’s research examines the neural circuits that regulate stress and emotion—and how these circuits are shaped by experience to influence conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder. Using advanced techniques, his work aims to improve our understanding of emotional memory and identify new targets for mental health treatment.
Originally from Los Angeles, Dr. Pennington completed his undergraduate and graduate studies in California before moving to New York City for his postdoctoral training. He now brings this experience to UBC, where he is excited to contribute to the department’s behavioural neuroscience research and teaching community.
Outside the lab and classroom, he enjoys the great outdoors, exploring Vancouver’s food scene, and spending time with his wife Saritha, and their two cats.
In a Q&A, Dr. Pennington shares his path to neuroscience, his current research, and what he’s most excited about as he begins his work at UBC.
First of all, can you tell us a little about yourself?
I grew up in LA, doing a lot of the things I still really enjoy – riding my bike, skateboarding, and listening to punk rock. I stayed in Los Angeles for both my undergrad degree (when I met my wife Saritha), and grad school (when we adopted our cats, Nugget and Truffles). The four of us then moved across the country to NYC, where I did my postdoc and Saritha did her neurology residency. I spent seven amazing years in NYC doing super fun science, meeting some of the most amazing people, and eating a ton of delicious food (Chinatown was our go-to). I’m now super excited to be joining such an incredible and welcoming group of people in the Psychology Department at UBC, as well as in the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health.
“I’m now super excited to be joining such an incredible and welcoming group of people in the Psychology Department at UBC, as well as in the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health.”
What kinds of questions do you try to answer through your research?
My research focuses on understanding the neural circuits that regulate stress and emotion, and how these circuits are shaped by experience to influence conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder. I’m also very interested in how emotional memories are stored, maintained, and modified. The lab uses a range of techniques to record from neural populations in freely behaving mice (e.g., miniscopes), as well as tools to manipulate neural circuits to test their function (e.g., optogenetics). The big goal is to develop new ways that these circuits can be targeted to improve mental health.
“My research focuses on understanding the neural circuits that regulate stress and emotion, and how these circuits are shaped by experience to influence conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder.”
How did you become interested in this line of research?
As a teenager I struggled with my mental health, and having gotten through that, wanted to help others struggling with similar issues. In college, I initially wanted to become a clinical psychologist, helping people with mental illness. Then, during my junior year I took behavioral neuroscience class and was completely captivated. Not only did I find the subject fascinating, I was struck by the promise neuroscience had for helping people. Soon after, I joined a lab and was completely hooked! I’ve been pursuing related research topics ever since then.
Can you tell us about any new research that you are particularly excited about?
Most research on the neurobiology of stress has focused on how animals immediately respond to stressors in their environment (e.g., fight or flight responses and stress hormone release). By comparison, relatively little research has been done on what happens when a stressor goes away. In my lab, I’m really excited to start exploring the active behavioral and biological processes that are recruited to help animals recuperate after stress.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I really like getting outdoors to hike/bike/skateboard, going to see art, eating all sorts of yummy food, and spending time with my wife Saritha and our two cats.
Join us in welcoming Zach to UBC!
