Stasiewicz, renowned alcohol treatment researcher, to retire from UB

Paul Stasiewicz outside on South Campus.

By Matthew Biddle

Published August 17, 2026

“I met many wonderful people in my role as a mentor, and that has been a great privilege. ”

Paul Stasiewicz, Professor and Janet B. Wattles Endowed Chair

University at Buffalo School of Social Work

Related Links

9/25/23 Behavorial Health Clinic

After nearly 30 years of service to the University at Buffalo, Paul R. Stasiewicz, PhD — professor and the Janet B. Wattles Endowed Chair in the UB School of Social Work — will retire this week.

Stasiewicz came to UB in 1996 as a psychologist and research scientist with the Research Institute on Addictions (RIA). He continued conducting research on behalf of RIA (now known as the Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions) and the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences until joining the School of Social Work faculty in 2019.

Along the way, Stasiewicz became a leading scientist in the field of alcohol treatment research, serving as the principal investigator on several innovative studies funded by the National Institutes of Health and, specifically, its National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Stasiewicz was frequently called upon by colleagues nationally for his expertise, reviewing grants for the NIAAA and serving on editorial boards for multiple scientific journals, among other leadership roles.

In the School of Social Work, he and Professor Clara M. Bradizza established the Behavioral Health Clinic to translate their research into effective, research-based treatments for Western New Yorkers in need.

Stasiewicz says the work he most enjoyed, though, has been training or mentoring pre- and post-doctoral students and new or junior faculty. He taught doctoral-level seminars and served as a research supervisor or mentor for many emerging scientists who went on to launch careers around the country. Even in retirement, Stasiewicz plans to continue supporting the school’s Fed-AWARD program, a federal grant writing skills workshop for School of Social Work faculty administered by the Buffalo Center for Social Research.

“I met many wonderful people in my role as a mentor, and that has been a great privilege,” he shared. “Feeling like I played some small role in their success is very gratifying.”