Mentoring
Cohorts of neurons are organized into anatomically specialized regions that are functionally connected by neural circuits. Allocating distinct types of neurons from uncommitted progenitor cells and the precision of neuronal connectivity requires the coordination of cell fate programming, differentiation, and neural circuit formation. I am interested in how genes and signaling pathways function at specific developmental stages to control these processes. My lab studies these mechanisms in the thalamus, striatum, and dopamine system because these regions regulate perception, sensation, sleep, motivation, and movement and are affected in complex brain disorders including autism, epilepsy, and schizophrenia. Using genetic approaches in mice, we ascertain how neuronal subtypes are established and become functionally connected. We also determine how mutations induced at specific embryonic stages affect brain development and cause complex behavioral phenotypes. Our knowledge of developmental mechanisms is being used to advance stem cell and pharmacological therapies to ameliorate brain disease.
MENTORING
Ph.D. mentoring: Thesis research conducted in the lab
Stephen Brown, MCB Ph.D. candidate (June 2007-2011)
Thesis Project: Genetic approaches to understand the timing of gene expression and lineage allocation in the mouse auditory system
Graduated with Ph.D. May 2011.
Nellwyn Hagan, Neuroscience Graduate Student (September 2007-2011)
Thesis Project: The Spatial and Temporal Control of Gene Expression in Cerebellum Development
2008 Reismann Fellowship
Graduated with Ph.D. July 2011.
Lindsay Hayes, Brown Neuroscience/NIH Graduate Student Partnership Graduate Student (June 2007-2011)
*Co-mentor with Dr. Sohyun Ahn, Ph.D.
Thesis Project: The role of Shh signaling in dopamine neuron development
Graduated with Ph.D. December 2011.
Ashly Brown, Neuroscience Graduate Student (September 2008-2012)
Thesis Project: The lineage contribution and functional role of Wnt1 in dopamine neuron development
2009 Kaplan Summer Graduate Research Award
Graduated with Ph.D. December 2012.
Elizabeth Normand, Neuroscience Graduate Student (June 2008-2013)
Thesis Project: Determining developmental changes in neural circuits relevant to Tuberous Sclerosis by conditionally inactivating Tsc1 in the thalamus and cerebral cortex
2009 Brain Science Graduate Research Award
Graduated with Ph.D. April, 2013
Yu-Ting Liu, Engineering Graduate Student (co-mentored from September 2012-Present)
Collaboration Project: Integrating Mathematical Modeling and Stem Cell Programming for
Neuronal Differentiation
2012 Brain Science Award
Postdoctoral mentoring
Jeannie Smith, Ph.D., Neuroscience Postdoctoral Fellow
2012-Present
NSGP Training grant (2012-2013)
Research Project: 1. Determining how the loss of Tsc1 affects synaptic architecture at thalamocortical synapses; 2. Determining the molecular cascade that links the mTOR pathway to neural circuit formation and synaptogenesis; 3. Conducting mTOR inhibitions studies to determine the time and duration of rapamycin required to ameliorate specific neurologic phenotypes in a novel mouse model that mimics salient features of Tuberous Sclerosis.
Jasmine Yang, Ph.D., Neuroscience Postdoctoral Fellow
2008-2010
NSGP Training Grant (2008-2009)
Research Project: 1. Determining the age related changes in dopamine neuron sub-populations and dopamine circuits; 2. Ascertaining whether caloric restriction can ameliorate the effects of aging on dopamine neurons; 3. Identifying the molecular pathogenic cascade underpinning aging dopamine neurons; 4. Generating Wnt1 conditional allele targeting construct for homologous recombination in mice (completed).
Undergraduate research mentoring
Bettina Voelcker, Brown University undergraduate
BIOL1950/1960, Independent Study
2013 Undergraduate Teaching and Research Award
2012-Present
Research Project: Behavioral abnormalities as a result of Tsc1 deletion in the developing thalamus
Ellen Downing, Brown University undergraduate
BIOL1950/1960, Independent Study
2013-Present
Research Project: Timing and duration of mTOR inhibitors in treating a mouse model of Tuberous Sclerosis
Catherine Browning, East Providence High School
Senior Honors Research
February 2011-2012
Research Project: Quantitative analysis of behavioral abnormalities mediated by conditional gene deletion of Tsc1 in a mouse model of Tuberous Sclerosis.
*Graduated with senior honors
Mariel Rios, Hunter/NYU Neuroscience Research
BP-ENDURE Program
June 2011-August 2011
Research Project: The effects of rapamycin treatment on Tsc1 deficient neurons in the thalamus.
Ujla Devyani, UMBC
MARC U*STAR Summer Intern
June 2010-August 2010
Research Project: Determining the role of Wnt1, Shh, and Fgf8 in the development of midbrain dopamine neurons
Caroline Rieser, Brown University undergraduate student research
BIOL1950/1960, Independent Study
February 2009-2010
Research Project: Genetic Dissection of Midbrain Dopamine Neuron Diversity
*Graduated with Senior Honors Thesis
Juliana Guarente, Brown University undergraduate student research assistant
BIOL1950/1960, Independent Study
2009 Undergraduate Teaching and Research Award
February 2009-2010
Research Project: Determining the Gbx2 lineage contribution to the adult cerebellum
*Graduated with Senior Honors Thesis
Brian Luu, Brown University undergraduate student research assistant
BIOL1950/1960, Independent Study
2007, 2008 Undergraduate Teaching and Research Awards
September 2006-2008
Research Project: Elucidating the role of Gbx2 in spinal cord development
*Graduated with Senior Honors Thesis