KEY CAPABILITIES AND RESEARCH TECHNIQUES ¿ Highly experienced group leader studying the neurobiological basis of reward learning processes and associated psychopathologies (i.e., addictive behavior, chronic pain). ¿ Ample experience with complex conditional mouse mutants (I provide the highest amount of transgenic mice in ZI (Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Germany), maintaining and breeding 37 different mouse lines). ¿ Pioneer in using advanced transgenic mouse models to study addictive behavior (e.g. Engblom et al. 2008; Bilbao et al., 2011 and 2015; Eisenhardt et al., 2015b). ¿ Core expertise in developing new animal models for psychiatric diseases like anxiety, depression, addiction or chronic pain (e.g. Bilbao et al., 2018). ¿ Core expertise in developing new techniques like intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS), alcohol drinking (operant, oral self-administration) or conditioned preference and aversion procedures in mice (e.g. Bilbao et al., 2015; Eisenhardt et al., 2015a, b, c; Bilbao et al., 2020). EDUCATION AND ACADEMIC POSITIONS ¿ Since November 2022: Scientific Head of the Animal house and Animal experimentation Unit at the Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Spain. ¿ Since November 2022: Guest scientist at the Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Germany ¿ 2012-2022: Head of Behavioral Genetics Research Group at the Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Germany. ¿ July 2007-2011: Post-doc and project leader (since 2008) positions at the Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health (ZI), University of Heidelberg. ¿ 2004-2006: Post-doc position at the Imabis Institute, Carlos Haya Hospital, Spain. ¿ 1999-2004: Ph.D., Department of Psychobiology, Complutense University of Madrid (Spain). Supervisors: Prof. Dr Fernando Rodriguez de Fonseca and Prof. Dr. Miguel Navarro. Dissertation title, “The endocannabinoid system and addiction to drugs of abuse: potential therapy for alcoholism”, Suma Cum Laude. ¿ 1993-1997: Degree of Psychology, University of Deusto (Spain). ¿ 1983-1994: Music/Piano education, Music school Andres Isasi (Bilbao, Spain). Qualification as piano teacher. LIST OF PUBLICATIONS ¿ Total number of publications: 64; citations: 6120; h- index: 36; i10-index: 55; impact factor: 15.9 (Neuron, top publication h5-index: 154); 9.4 (Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, top publication h5-index: 228); 13.6 (Am J Psychiatry); 12.4 (Biol Psychiatry); 10.2 (BMC Med) ¿ Most important publications: 1- Engblom D, Bilbao A*, Sanchis-Segura C, Dahan L, Perreau-Lenz S, Balland B, Parkitna JR, Luján R, Halbout B, Mameli M, Parlato R, Sprengel R, Lüscher C, Schütz G & Spanagel R (2008) Glutamate Receptors on Dopamine Neurons Control the Persistence of Cocaine Seeking. Neuron 59, 497-508.* equal contribution 2- Bilbao A, Parkitna JR, Engblom D, Perreau-Lenz S, Sanchis-Segura C, Schneider M, Konopka W, Westphal M, Breen G, Desrivieres S, Klugmann M, Guindalini C, Vallada H, Laranjeira R, de Fonseca FR, Schumann G, Schütz G, Spanagel R (2011) Loss of the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type IV in dopaminoceptive neurons enhances behavioral effects of cocaine. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 105, 17549-17554. Worlwide media coverage as a result of press release. 3- Dong L, Bilbao A*, Laucht M, Henriksson R, Yakovleva T, Ridinger M, Desrivieres S, Clarke TK, Lourdusamy A, Smolka MN, Cichon S, Blomeyer D, Treutlein J, Perreau-Lenz S, Witt S, Leonardi-Essmann F, Wodarz N, Zill P, Soyka M, Albrecht U, Rietschel M, Lathrop M, Bakalkin G, Spanagel R, Schumann G (2011) Effects of the Circadian Rhythm Gene Period 1 (Per1) on Psychosocial Stress-Induced Alcohol Drinking. Am J Psychiatry 168, 1090-8. * Equal contribution. 4- Stacey D, Bilbao A*, Maroteaux M, Jia T, Easton AC, Longueville S, Nymberg C, Banaschewski T, Barker GJ,