William Stoops

Dr. William Stoops, Dr. William R. Willard Professor in Behavioral Science, is a faculty member in the Departments of Behavioral Science, Psychiatry and Psychology at the University of Kentucky. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Davidson College in Davidson, NC and his Master’s degree and PhD in Psychology from the University of Kentucky. His research, continuously funded by NIH since 2008, evaluates the behavioral and pharmacological factors that contribute to drug use disorders, focusing primarily on stimulant drugs. He is completing a clinical trial evaluating non-abstinence outcomes in cocaine use disorder. He is also leading human laboratory studies determining the role of serotonin 5-HT1b systems in the abuse related effects of cocaine and examining glutamate systems in individuals who co-use opioids and cocaine. Based on his research contributions, Dr. Stoops was named the 2013 Joseph Cochin Young Investigator by the College on Problems of Drug Dependence and the 2016 Psychologist of the Year from the Kentucky Psychological Association. He also received a Presidential Citation from the American Psychological Association in 2021. Dr. Stoops directs the Clinical Research Support Office at the University of Kentucky and is Associate Director for Clinical Research of the University of Kentucky Substance Use Priority Research Area. He is Treasurer of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence and the Association for Clinical and Translational Science.