Principal Investigator 

Erik M. Brault, Ph.D., M. Ed. 

Behavior Scientist

To put it crystal clear, I am a product of addiction. Since the opioid epidemic ramped up in the late 1990s into the early 2000s, my life has been completely taken over by drug addiction. I am from Wisconsin, though lived my entire adult life outside the state and abroad. That was until early 2024 when I came back to Wisconsin to start the adoption process of my only nephew. His biological parents were not taking care of him due to a multitude of other personal priorities, including their own drug addictions. 

Having to drop my life, my dreams, goals, belongings, any money I had, retirement savings, friends, relationships, prospects...all that I worked tirelessly for, to come get this little boy has put all things into greater perspective for me. And so resurfaces the Brault Laboratory.     

My experience with addiction and codependent behaviors dates back over two decades. Research efforts ramped up during my graduate studies while also investigating a multitude of behavior topics related to education, leadership, disability, impairment, and environmental factors related to the drug epidemic. Ultimately, my personal and family struggles around navigating addition has lead to current efforts on expanding the Brault Lab into a larger scale data and research center. 

I do not want anyone to have to go through what I've gone through. And although through other avenues I will continue to address my story and the story of many others around the topic of addiction, the Brault Lab's sole focus and priority is upholding the ethical standards of qualitative and quantitative science. My job is to investigate and inform while providing pathways and access for others to do so.