Jessica R. Risner, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Department of Neuroscience
Education
B. S. Heidelberg College, 2001
Ph.D. University of Virginia, 2007
Post-doc. University of Virginia, 2007-present
I received my B.S. in both Biology and Psychology from Heidelberg College in 2001, and in 2007 I received my doctorate from the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Virginia. I completed my thesis work in Jeff Holt's lab where I studied the vestibular ganglion neurons (VGNs) in the inner ear. I used electrophysiology to characterize the intrinsic firing properties of VGNs and have shown that the diverse firing properties observed in these neurons were due in part to the expression of a heterogeneous population of potassium conductances. Using various molecular, pharmacological and electrophysiological techniques, I have also presented evidence for potential molecular correlates for the potassium conductances shown to influence the properties of VGNs. I am currently working as a post-doc in Jeff Holt's lab, and am particularly interested in the KCNQ family of potassium channels. My thesis work established a role for KCNQ channels in VGN function. I currently utilize a variety of techniques including electrophysiology, pharmacology, quantitative RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and in order to investigate how the members of the KCNQ family of potassium channels contribute to the function of VGNs.
Contact information
Email: jrr3p@virginia.edu
Lab: (434) 243-9499
Fax: (434) 982-4380
Mailing Address
University of Virginia
Department of Neuroscience
Box 801392
Charlottesville, VA 22908
Delivery Address
University of Virginia
409 Lane Rd
MR4 Building, Room 5116
Charlottesville, VA 22908
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