James (Tim) McKenna, Ph.D.
Full-Time Faculty, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience
Education:
- Ph.D. Florida Atlantic University
- BA University of Chicago
Dr. James "Tim" McKenna is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Nova Southeastern University, where he brings a strong background in neuroscience, sleep-wake regulation, and neurophysiological methods. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Chicago and his Ph.D. from Florida Atlantic University. Before joining Nova Southeastern University, Dr. McKenna spent many years at Harvard Medical School and the VA Boston Healthcare System, where he served as a research scientist in the Department of Psychiatry and as an associate professor of psychiatry. His research focuses on how neural circuits and neurotransmitter systems regulate the sleep-wake cycle, arousal, and related brain oscillatory activity, using advanced techniques such as optogenetics, chemogenetics, neuroanatomy, electrophysiology, and behavioral analysis in animal models. Dr. McKenna introduces students to cutting-edge STEM approaches in psychology and neuroscience, demonstrating how basic research methods may reveal the relationships between brain activity and behavior.
Watch Video - Study of Sleep and Dreams with James "Tim" McKenna, Ph.D. Click HERE