Position in Paradis lab: PhD Student

Where are they now? Patent Agent at DLA Piper Global Law Firm

Education:

B.A. Neuroscience from Kenyon College

Ph.D. Neuroscience, Brandeis University

Hometown: Bexley, Ohio

Personal Interests: I grew up in the pool as a competitive swimmer and I like to get back in the pool when I have time. I keep a close eye on my swimming Ladies at Kenyon College. Like many people in the lab I love all things Harry Potter! Good food is also a passion of mine and I love cooking for special occasions.

If I weren't a scientist I'd be... an art historian or a swim coach

Research Interests: I am interested in understanding the synapse, particularly the molecular mechanisms of synapse development. Before coming to Brandeis, I studied molecular mechanisms involved in synapse morphology and plasticity with Dr. Yasunori Hayashi at MIT. I am currently working to elucidate molecular mechanisms of synaptogenesis. I am interested in understanding the role of molecules, such as Semaphorin 4D, in synapse development.

Publications:

Kuzirian, MS*, Moore, AR*, Staudenmaier, EK, Friedel, RH, Paradis, S (2013) The class 4 semaphorin Sema4D promotes the rapid assembly of GABAergic synapses in rodent hippocampus. J Neurosci 33(21): 8961-73.

Zeng, M, Kuzirian, MS, Harper, L, Paradis, S, Nakayama, T, Lau, NC (2013) Organic small hairpin RNAs (OshR): a do-it-yourself platform for transgene-based gene silencing. Methods. 63(2): 101-109.

Kuzirian, MS, Paradis, S (2011) Emerging themes in GABAergic synapse development. Prog Neurobiol 95(1): 68-87.

Hayashi, MK, Tang C, Verpelli C, Narayanan, R, Stearns, MH, Xu, RM, Li, H, Sala, C, Hayashi, Y (2009) The postsynaptic density proteins Homer and Shank form a polymeric network structure. Cell 137(1): 159-171.