RESEARCH GOALS
The overarching goal of my research is to understand the neural circuit mechanisms that support decision making. To this end, I use multiphoton microscopy, optogenetics, and virus-mediated circuit mapping to measure and manipulate the neural activity of identified cell types and projection neurons in behaving mice.
EDUCATION
2008 – 2013 Northwestern University
Ph.D. in NeuroscienceAdvisor: Prof. Marco Martina2004 – 2008 Carleton College
B.A. in Biology, magna cum laude with distinctionAdvisor: Prof. Fernan JaramilloRESEARCH EXPERIENCE
2014 – present
Postdoctoral Associate, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyDepartment of Brain and Cognitive SciencesPicower Institute for Learning and MemoryAdvisor: Prof. Mriganka SurCollaborator: Prof. Ann GraybielFunding: K99/R00 Independence award and NRSA Postdoctoral fellowship, NIH2008 – 2013
Graduate student, Northwestern UniversityDepartment of PhysiologyAdvisor: Prof. Marco MartinaCollaborator: Prof. Donald M. McCrimmonFunding: NRSA predoctoral FellowshipFUNDING
2017 - present
NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award (K99 MH112855)$1,003,810 five-year awardPrefrontal circuits for attention and motor planning2014 - 2017
NIH NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship (F32 EY024857)$158,374 three-year awardDopaminergic modulation of visual cortical circuits2012 - 2013
NIH NRSA Predoctoral Fellowship (F31 NS076201)$69,100 two-year awardContribution of ASIC channels to intrinsic chemosensitivity of NTS neurons2010 - 2011
Neurobiology of Information Storage Training Grant (T32 MH067564)$21,180 one-year award2009 - 2010
Early Years Training Grant (T32 AG020418)$37,726 one-year awardAWARDS
2004 - 2008
Posse Foundation, Carleton College$125,406 four-year scholarshipPRESENTATIONS
Talks
Huda, R., (2018) Bidirectional control of orienting behavior by distinct prefrontal circuits, Picower Institute for Learning and Memory Annual Retreat – MIT, Newport, RI, United States, selected talk
Huda, R. (2018) Flexible control of orienting behavior by prefrontal cortex, Christopher Harvey lab – Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, United States, invited talk
Huda, R., (2016) Mouse anterior cingulate cortex coordinates visual behavior, Picower Institute Plastic Lunch – MIT, Cambridge, MA, United States, selected talk
Huda, R., Pho, G., Gunter, L., Wickersham, I.R., Sur, M. (2016) Neural circuit mechanisms underlying sensorimotor behavior, 3rd Annual BRAIN Initiative Investigators Meeting, Washington DC, United States, invited talk
Huda, R., (2013) More than just the glue: Glial modulation of respiratory function, Carleton College – Department of Biology, Host: Fernan Jaramillo, Northfield, MN, United States, invited talk
Posters
Huda, R., Sipe, G.O., Adam, E., Breton-Provencher, V., Pho, G., Gunter, L., Wickersham, I.R., Sur, M. (2018) Bidirectional Control of Orienting Behavior by Distinct Prefrontal Circuits, Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, United States.
Huda, R., Sipe, G.O., Adam, E., Breton-Provencher, V., Pho, G., Gunter, L., Wickersham., I.R., Sur, M. (2018) Bidirectional control of goal-oriented actions by distinct prefrontal cortex circuits. The Necessity of Cell Types for Brain Function – Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS), Copenhagen, Denmark.
Sipe, G.O., Breton-Provencher, V., Tang, X., Huda, R., Garcia, R., Rikhye, R.V., Petravicz, J., Jaenisch, R., Sur, M. (2018) Diverse heterogeneity of astrocyte calcium transients underlies distinct neuronal activity profiles. Glia in Health & Disease - Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, United States.
Huda, R., Pho, G., Gunter, L., Sipe, G.O., Sur, M. (2017) Information Flow Across Long-Range Cortical and Subcortical Circuits Coordinates Sensorimotor Behavior, Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Washington DC, United States.
Huda, R., Pho, G., Gunter, L., Sipe, G.O., Sur, M. (2017) Information flow across long-range cortical and subcortical circuits coordinates sensorimotor behavior, The Assembly and Function of Neuronal Circuits – Ascona Meetings on Neural Circuits, Ascona, Switzerland.
Huda, R., Pho, G., Gunter, L., Wickersham, I.R., Sur, M. (2016) Circuit Mechanisms of Prefrontal Contribution to Visual Behavior, Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, United States.
Yildirim, M., Goard, M.J., Rowlands, C.J., Pho, G., Huda, R., So, P., Sur, M. (2016) Massive-Scale Multi-Area Single Neuron Recordings to Reveal Circuits Underlying Short-Term Memory. BRAIN Initiative Investigators Meeting, Bethesda, Maryland, United States.
Huda, R., Pho, G., Wickersham, I.R., Sur. M (2015) Circuit mechanisms underlying visual responses of the anterior cingulate cortex, Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, United States.
Huda, R., Pho, G., Wickersham, I.R., Sur, M. (2015) Mouse cingulate cortex coordinates visuomotor function, Symposium on the BRAIN Initiative – Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States.
Huda, R., Chang, Z., Jiao, W., McCrimmon, D.R., Martina, M. (2013) Astrocytes in the nucleus of the solitary tract modulate synaptic transmission and respiratory activity, Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, United States.
Huda, R., McCrimmon, D.R., Martina, M. (2012) Contribution of neuron-glia interaction to central control of breathing. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.
Chang Z., Ballou, T., McKenna, K.E., Alheid, G.F., Huda, R., Jiao, W., Martina, M., McCrimmon, D.R. (2012) Leptin – a mechanism linking breathing to metabolism? Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.
Huda, R., Pollema, S.L., Ashford, C., Alheid, G.F., McCrimmon, D.R., Martina, M. (2011) ASIC channels mediate chemosensitivity of breathing-related NTS neurons. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Washington DC, United States.
Deng, H.X., Fecto, F. Shi, Y., Huda, R., Martina, M., Siddique, T. (2011) Gain of constitutive function is the defining feature of axonal neuropathies-linked mutant TRPV4 channels. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Washington DC, United States.
VanLeeuwen, J., Srivastava, D.P., Raflovich, I., Huda, R., Penzes, P. (2010) Afadin/AF-6 is a key regulator of excitatory synapses and displays cyto-nuclear translocation in response to activity-dependent stimulation. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, United States.
VanLeeuwen, J., Srivastava, D.P., Xie, Z., Huda, R., Rafalovich, I., Penzes, P. (2009) Excitatory synpatic stimulation modulates Afadin/Af-6 nuclear translocation in pyramidal neurons. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, United States.
Birnstiel, S. Alheid, G.F., Huda, R., Tkatch, T., McCrimmon, D.R., Martina, M. (2008) TRPV-like channels contribute to intrinsic chemosensitivity of NTS neurons. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Washington DC, United States.
SUPERVISING AND MENTORING
2018 – present Nhat Mihn Le, Graduate Student
Dept. of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT2018 – present Austin Sullins, Research technician
Dept. of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT2018 Mahdi Ramadan, Rotation student
Dept. of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT2017 – present Karen Guadalupe Cruz, Graduate student
Dept. of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT2017 – present Elie Adam, Postdoctoral fellow
Dept. of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT2016 Tara Ramirez, Undergraduate student
MIT Summer Research Program, University of Puerto Rico2016 – present Grayson Sipe, Postdoctoral fellow
Dept. of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT2016 Daniel Montgomery, Rotation student
Dept. of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT2016 Lou Beaulieu-Laroche, Rotation student
Dept. of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT2015 – 2018 Liadan Gunter, Research technician
Dept. of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT2015 Jenna Krizan, Undergraduate student
MIT Summer Research Program, The College of New Jersey2015 Ada Celis Felix-Ortiz, Rotation student
Dept. of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MITTEACHING
2010 Teaching assistant, Northwestern
Cell Biology and Physiology (Prof. John Mordacq, Prof. Thomas Bozza)2005 – 2008 Teaching assistant, Carleton College
Introductory Biology (Sr. Lecturer David Hougen-Eitzman, Prof. Robert Rosenberg, Prof. Philip Camill)Preparation Program in Science and Mathematics (Prof. Deborah Gross)Organic Chemistry (Prof. Gretchen Hofmeister)Human Physiology (Prof. Fernan Jaramillo)