Marsh Life Science Building, Rm 334
109 Carrigan Dr
Burlington, VT 05405
United States
- P.hD., University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 2003
- M.S., University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 2000
- B.S., University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 1998
Areas of expertise
Neuronal morphogenesis; Cell & molecular biology; Neurodevelopmental processes, Semaphorin-Plexin signaling; Small GTPases; Autism spectrum disorder; Behavioral assays; Primary neuronal cultures; and in vivo Mouse genetics.
BIO
Understanding the mechanisms that govern neuronal wiring is a central focus of developmental neurobiology and, importantly, will result in the identification of molecular mechanisms relevant in many disease processes. The overarching goal of our research is to better understand how molecular cues regulate neuronal morphogenesis, synapse development, and refinement, thereby leading to the proper wiring of the nervous system and ultimately enabling the execution of complex behavior in the organism. Accordingly, our research team is interested in the following questions. (1) What are the molecules controlling neural circuit formation? (2) How do these connections regulate proper behavior, and how are they maintained throughout life? And (3) what are the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling synapse formation and refinement? To address these questions, we employ cellular, molecular, biochemical, and genetic approaches to analyze the mouse central nervous system during developmental and mature ages. We also use a combination of interdisciplinary approaches, including, but not limited to, sophisticated mouse genetics (inducible knockout/knockin, CRISPR), to perform in vitro and in vivo experiments, and physiology and behavioral analysis to provide a platform to study complex neural circuit functions and how defects in salient connections may lead to the development of neurological disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder.
Bio
Understanding the mechanisms that govern neuronal wiring is a central focus of developmental neurobiology and, importantly, will result in the identification of molecular mechanisms relevant in many disease processes. The overarching goal of our research is to better understand how molecular cues regulate neuronal morphogenesis, synapse development, and refinement, thereby leading to the proper wiring of the nervous system and ultimately enabling the execution of complex behavior in the organism. Accordingly, our research team is interested in the following questions. (1) What are the molecules controlling neural circuit formation? (2) How do these connections regulate proper behavior, and how are they maintained throughout life? And (3) what are the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling synapse formation and refinement? To address these questions, we employ cellular, molecular, biochemical, and genetic approaches to analyze the mouse central nervous system during developmental and mature ages. We also use a combination of interdisciplinary approaches, including, but not limited to, sophisticated mouse genetics (inducible knockout/knockin, CRISPR), to perform in vitro and in vivo experiments, and physiology and behavioral analysis to provide a platform to study complex neural circuit functions and how defects in salient connections may lead to the development of neurological disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder.