Affiliated Appointment
Visiting Research Professor, Comparative Biology Centre & Institute for
Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
Research Interests
Development & validation of animal models (Stress, anxiety and depression;
Chronic pain models and analgesia)
Drug efficacy screening (anxiolytics, antidepressants, analgesics)
Philosophy of mind/consciousness; neuroethics
Courses Offered
General Psychology (Psy 201)
Brain and Behavior (Psy 319)
Psychopharmacology Lab (Psy 405/420)
Physiological Psychology (Psy 615)
Teaching of Psychology (Psy 621)
Awards and Honors
2006 Thomas F. Frist Student Service Award (for extraordinary service to
students), University of Mississippi
2005 Faculty Achievement Award (for outstanding teaching and scholarship), University of Mississippi
2000 Presidential Citation (for national efforts in psychology curricular reform), American Psychological Association
1999 Top 40 Under 40 Mississippian (for professional excellence and contributions to the community), Mississippi Business Journal & Bank of Mississippi
1997 Alpha Epsilon Delta Outstanding Teacher, Pre-Medicine Honor Society, University of Mississippi
1997 University's Outstanding Faculty, Higher Education Appreciation Day--Working for Academic Excellence, The State of Mississippi Legislature
1996 Elsie M. Hood University's Outstanding Teacher Award, University of Mississippi
Recent Publications
Hymel KA, Salmeto AL, Kim EH, Sufka KJ (in press) Development and validation of
the chick anxiety-depression continuum model. In JE Warnick, AV Kalueff (Eds.),
Translational Neuroscience and its Advancement of Animal Research Ethics, Nova
Science Publishers.
Sufka KJ (2009) Preparing for a career at a research university. In SF Davis, P
Giordano, CA Licht (Eds.), Your career in psychology: Putting your graduate
degree to work. Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 103-116.
Rainey EP, Sufka KJ (2009) Pharmacological dissociation of anxiety state in the
elevated star maze in chicks. In AV Kalueff, JL LaPorte (Eds.), Experimental
Animal Models in Neurobehavioral Research, Nova Science Publishers.
Sufka KJ, Weldon M, Allen C (2009) The case for animal emotions: Modeling
neuropsychiatric disorders. In J Bickle (Ed.), Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of
Neuroscience, Oxford University Press, pp. 522-536.
Sufka KJ, Warnick JE, Pulaski CN, Slauson SR, Kim YB, Rimoldi JM (2009)
Antidepressant efficacy screening of novel targets in the chick
anxiety-depression model. Behavioural Pharmacology, 20, 146-154.
Warnick JE, Huang C-J, Acevedo EO, Sufka KJ (2009) Modeling the
anxiety-depression continuum in chicks. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 23,
143-156.
Kalueff AV, LaPorte JL, Murphy DL, Sufka KJ. (2008) Hybridizing behavioral
models: a possible solution to some problems in neurophenotyping research?
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, 32, 1172-1178.
Feltenstein MW, Sufka KJ (2008) Development and validation of alternative models
of anxiety and depression using domestic fowl. In AV Kalueff, JL LaPorte (Eds.),
Behavioral Models in Stress Research, Nova Science Publishers, pp. 23-54.
Warnick JE, Sufka KJ (2008) Animal models of anxiety: examining their validity,
utility and ethical considerations. In AV Kalueff, JL LaPorte (Eds.), Behavioral
Models in Stress Research, Nova Science Publishers, pp. 55-71.
Kochanowska AJ, Rao KV, Childress S, El-Afy A, Matsumoto RR, Kelly M, Stewart
GS, Sufka KJ, Hamann MT (2008) Secondary metabolites from three Florida sponges
with antidepressant activity. Journal of Natural Products, 71, 186-189.
Patent Pending
Animal Model of Anxiety and Depression (PCT application # 20070089680, original
filing Oct 13, 2006; amended filing July 31, 2009).
Grants and Contracts
PI: Anxiolytic/antidepressant efficacy screening of proprietary compounds, Novus
International, Inc. St. Charles, MO (03/01/09-08/31/09, Total costs: $35,000)
Collaborator: Assessing the welfare of mice in cancer research, Medical Research
Council, United Kingdom (PIs J. Roughan. P. Flecknell, 01/01/10-12/31/12, Total
costs: £465,624)
PI: Identification of reinforcing constituents in botanical extracts. National
Institute of Health (project in $11M COBRE to UM), Washington, D.C.
(08/01/06-07/31/11, Total costs $535,031)
Collaborator: Neoplasia and pain in laboratory animals, NC3R, United Kingdom
(PIs P. Flecknell and J. Roughan, (01/01/05-06/30/08, Total costs: £269,000)
PI: The effects of eszopiclone on nociceptive processing in the adjuvant model
of arthritis in rats. Sepracor, Inc., Marlborough, MA. (04/01/06-06/30/06, Total
costs: $36,000)
Co-PI: Mammalian metabolism/kinetics of xanthohumol. Hop Research Council,
Harrah, WA. (06/01/01-05/31/03, Total costs: $201,022)
PI: Screening botanical extracts for analgesic and antiinflammatory properties
in the adjuvant arthritic rat. Eurovita, Karlslunde, Denmark.
(06/01/01-08/15/01, Total costs: $12,500)
PI: Screening botanical extracts for anxiolytic/analgesic/sedative properties.
NEXT Pharmaceuticals, Irvine, CA. (01/01/96-2-28-03,Total costs: $45,000)
Professional affiliations
Society for Neuroscience
Society for the Teaching of Psychology
Society for Philosophy and Psychology
American Association for the Advancement of Science
