Joel Baumgart, B.A. Psychology; B.S. Biochemistry, University of Missouri

Voltage-gated calcium channels play a central role in neuronal firing,gene expression, and neurotransmitter release. Recent studies suggest that the functional calcium channel is a complex of the pore-forming subunit and auxiliary subunits, although the mechanism of assembly remains elusive. In the Perez-Reyes lab, I use techniques of molecular biology, biochemistry, confocal microscopy, and electrophysiological recordings of whole cell currents to determine the role that auxiliary subunits play in the formation and membrane trafficking of active channels. Email: jpb3f@virginia.edu

Paul Bonthuis, B.S. Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle
Rissman and Grant Labs

Research in Emilie Rissman’s lab is focused on the study of sexually dimorphic behavior, including the involvement of neuroendocrine and genetic mechanisms.  Sex chromosomes are a source of genetic variation between males and females.  Using genetic mouse models, I am working toward the discovery of genes on the sex chromosomes that are both differentially expressed in the brain between the sexes, and mediate masculine and feminine behaviors.  Separately, I am also working on the development of a mouse model of learned helplessness to study the effects of estrogens on resiliency to acquire depressive-like symptoms.  Our aim is to find depression susceptibility and protective genes that are regulated by estrogen receptor signaling. Email:  pjb4n@virginia.edu

Xenia Borue, B.A. Biology and Chemistry, Cornell,               MSTP

Venton Lab

Ryon Clarke, Lafayette College

1st year Graduate Student

Emily Cronin-Furman, University of Miami

Elizabeth Daubert, B.S. Zoology, North Carolina State University

My work in Barry Condron's lab focuses on the regulation of terminal differentiation of serotonergic neurons in the fruit fly. We use the presence of the serotonin transporter (SerT) as a marker for serotonergic differentiation as it is expressed only in the serotonergic neurons and its expression begins before the onset of serotonin production. Previous work in the lab has shown that SerT onset is temporally linked to midline crossing of serotonergic axons. I plan to investigate this regulation by focusing on the Robo2 and FGF signaling pathways and their relationship to the differentiation of these neurons.
Email: ead8g@virginia.edu 

1st year Graduate Student

Sara Dudgeon, B.S. Neurobiology, B.S. Zoology, University of Wisconsin, Madison

The Hill lab studies the neurophysiological, morphological, and developmental taste system and the plasticity that occurs within this system. The chorda tympani nerve travels from the anterior of the tongue to the gustatory portion of the nucleus of the solitary tract in the brainstem where it forms a terminal field. My research focuses on how the distribution of GABAergic neurons within this terminal field changes over development in the rat. I am also investigating how environmental manipulations, such as malnutrition and stress, can affect this development. I am also developing techniques to map the projections of taste neurons in the brainstem.  Email: sld2r@virginia.edu

In the laboratory of Kevin Lee, I am working with a novel rat model of subcortical band heterotopia (SBH), the tish rat, in which a collection of misplaced neurons accumulates in the white matter beneath the normal cortex. Human patients with SBH exhibit intractable epilepsy, and the tish rat also experiences epileptic behavior. Previous evidence from our lab suggests that defects in proliferation and migration may be responsible for the phenotype in this animal model of SBH. I am interested in investigating the role of radial glia in the development of the heterotopia in the tish rat.

Nicholas Hargus, B.S. Neuroscience, Lafayette College  

In the Patel lab, we use whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology in an intact brain slice to look at the role of sodium channels in neuronal signaling and how this plays a role in the generation of epileptic seizures.  Using electrophysiological techniques, we are comparing the sodium channel-dependent firing properties of various neurons within the rat hippocampus of control animals to those in a model of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE).  We are also using various molecular biology techniques to look at expression patterns of these sodium channels in the epileptic animal.  Email: njh9c@virginia.edu  

Geoffrey Horwitz, B.S. Biology/Psychology,
Trinity College, San Antonio

Holt Lab

Zofia Lasiecka, M.S. Biology,
Warsaw University 

The Winckler lab is focused on the establishment and maintenance of neuronal cell polarity. Neurons have two distinct domains, axon and dendrite, which differ in their distribution of organelles, cytoskeleton, and proteins in the plasma membrane. These distinct domains play a critical role in receiving and propagating signals. We are investigating the mechanism by which proteins are sorted and transported to specific locations in the neuronal cell, with a particular focus on trafficking of adhesion molecules from the L1 family. To address these questions we use primary hippocampal neuronal cultures, transfection, live imaging and immunocytochemistry.  I am specifically interested in the trafficking and role of cell adhesion molecules in synapse formation and function. My current project aims to answer the question whether NgCAM adhesion molecule are endocytosed and trafficked in the same organelles as the postsynaptic AMPA receptors that mediate synaptic transmission, and and plays an important role in synaptic plasticity.
Email: zml5v@virginia.edu

Michaela Levin, M.A. Education, M.A. Performance,  New York University
Serotonin plays a very significant role in human health and disease. In addition to an adult physiological function, serotonin also has an important function in development. My research in the Condron lab focuses on the regulation of serotonergic neurons in the developing central nervous system. Specifically, I am interested in the mechanisms by which serotonin autoregulates development. I have identified a candidate serotonin autoreceptor and am using a broad range of genetic, molecular and physiological tools to understand its function. Email: mel2u@virginia.edu

Olivia Mullins, B.A. Psychology, Boston College   
My research in the Friesen laboratory will be working towards discovery of the neuronal mechanisms required to produce behavior in a nervous system. The leech, a segmented worm, is an ideal model for this task due to its small range of behaviors as well as its relatively simplistic nervous system. This nervous system consists of a head and tail brain on either end of a 21 ganglion chain, with each ganglion containing largely the same pattern of approximately 400 neurons. Using electrophysiology, specifically the sharp electrode technique, I will be exploring the mechanisms behind leech swimming behavior with a focus on the maintenance of this behavior. Eventually I plan to incorporate fluorescence microscopy and pharmacological manipulations into my research.

Michelle Neveklovska, B.S. Biology, Syracuse University

In Scott Zeitlin's lab, we are interested in understanding the pathogenic mechanisms of Huntington's Disease (HD). HD is a dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disorder that affects some 30,000 Americans. It is caused by an expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat in the huntingtin protein and is characterized by the selective loss of striatal medium spiny neurons, with some associated degeneration in the cortex. Using an inducible Cre/lox strategy, I am studying the consequences of inactivating HD gene expression in astrocytes at different developmental times. Ultimately, I am interested in understanding the role of astrocytes in HD pathology. 
Email: mmn2h@virginia.edu

Neurodegenerative Diseases Journal Club
http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/
neurosci/HD_Journal_Club/home2.cfm

Justyna Pielecka, M.S. Biotechnology,
Techincal University at Lodz

Moenter Lab

Matt Rannals, B.S. Physics, Hampden-Sydney College

My research in the laboratory of Jaideep Kapur focuses on inhibitory GABAergic neurons. I use a variety of fluorescent imaging techniques along with electrophysiological recordings to study the signalling that occurs in these neurons. Classically, GABAergic signalling was thought to occur at inhibitory synapses. Recently there has been evidence shown for extrasynaptic GABA receptors playing a role in inhibition as well. Both forms of signalling may be important for homeostatic plasticity, allowing the neuron to maintain consistent responsiveness in a fluctuating environment of activity. Through my research I hope to better understand the mechanisms underlying these forms of signalling, as well as the role and targeting mechanisms of the GABAA receptor and its subunitsEmail: mdr3m@virginia.edu

Carolina Ramoa, B.A. Biology/Cognitive Science, University of Virginia

Kapur Lab

Victoria Sanchez, Frostburg State University

David Sloan, B.S. Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University

I'm currently interested in studying the cortical connections of the midline thalamic nucleii. The Bertram lab specializes in studying epilepsy in rats, and the midline thalamus is of particular interest to us because of its extensive connections to multiple parts of the brain, which make it a possible 'routing station' for seizure spread. The attributes of these connections, including a strong recruiting response to low-frequency stimulation, change in rats that develop epilepsy. I'm working on characterizing those changes.
Email: dms7t@virginia.edu

Eric Stauffer, B.S. Neuroscience, Lafayette College

I am in Dr. Jeff Holt's lab in the Neuroscience department. Mechanical information carried by sound and vestibular stimuli is converted into an electrical signal by various types of sensory hair cells in the inner ear. I use electrophysiological methods (the whole-cell tight-seal technique) to study these cells. I move the hair bundles very small distances (~1 µm) and record mechanotransducer currents. Specifically, I am examining the phenomenon of adaptation within hair cells, whereby the magnitude of the mechanotranducer currents decrease over time in the presence of constant stimuli. I hope to elucidate the mechanisms and and molecular components of adaptation by using genetic and electrophysiological methods.
Email: eas6v@virginia.edu

Peihan Su, B.A. Neuroscience, Rutgers University

My research in Slobo Todorovic's lab is currently focused the possible relationship between low-voltage activated calcium channels, nitrous oxide, and pain processing. I am currently doing electrophysiological recordings using transfected HEK cells, but also plan to extend this project into endogenous channels and behavioral testing.

Email: peihan@virginia.edu

Lucia Tejada, B.S. Biology, La Molina National Agrarian University, Lima, Peru

Androgens, including testosterone and its metabolite dihydrotestosterone, activate androgen receptors (ARs) to exert effects on the developing and adult nervous system. Nuclear ARs are ligand-dependent transcription factors that modify the expression of androgen-responsive genes. Moreover, the AR is expressed in many hypothalamic areas that undergo sexual differentiation. Recent studies in our lab have demonstrated a role for AR in the differentiation of social preferences in mice. Using a transgenic mouse line in which cells that express AR co-express two reporter molecules (nuclear β -galactsosidase and placental alkaline phosphatase), my current research focuses in the identification of the critical period during development, puberty or adulthood when the AR plays its critical role.

Max Vakulenko, B.A. Biology,  Mount Sinai Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

Winckler Lab

Email: mv2a@virginia.edu

Ellena van der Schalie, B.S. Biology, Loyola College

Circadian rhythms are responsible for controlling temporal relationships of cellular, physiological, and behavioral processes and synchronizing these processes with important environmental cues. The approximately 24-hour period of circadian oscillation is driven by a molecular clock found in individual cells, consisting of interlocking transcriptional/translational feedback loops. I am interested in defining functional domains within the Cryptochrome protein, which is involved in this negative feedback loop.
Email: eav2f@virginia.edu

Heidi Walsh, B.S. Neuroscience, Allegheny College
My work in Margaret Shupnik's lab focuses on how gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) regulates expression of the gonadotropin subunit genes that form luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Specifically, I am interested in how GnRH influences the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway to exert the tight transcriptional control these genes require for fertility.
 Email:  hew8f@virginia.edu

Erica Young, B.A. Psychobiology,
Florida Atlantic University

 In the Williams' lab, we examine the effect of emotional arousing events on norepinephrine release in nuclei that play key roles in memory formation. My current research is examining the projections from the nucleus of the solitaire to the basolataral amygdala using in vivo microdialysis and HPLC. With in vivo microdialysis and HPLC, I am able to observe changes in norepinephrine levels in the basolateral amygdala following manipulates to upstream nuclei.   Email:ejy5m@virginia.edu

MSTP student

Kisha Young, B.S. Biochemistry, Spelman College            MSTP

Bennett Lab