The Department of Neurobiology is a vibrant collection of faculty and research labs dedicated to investigating development and nervous system function in health and disease. Research areas include the molecular, cellular and circuit analysis of neuronal communication and behavior, the role of gene regulation and epigenetics in development and nervous system function, and mechanisms of disease.
We are committed to graduate and postdoctoral training, emphasizing research excellence and professional development. We also also boast a strong tradition of leadership in health sciences education and scholarship. The department is an integral part of campus-wide neuroscience and developmental biology communities.
Welcome Dr. Ismail Ahmed
We are pleased to welcome Dr. Ismail Ahmed as a new member of the faculty starting at Assistant Professor in Fall 2024!
Dr. Ahmed's research lies at the intersection of chemical biology and neuroscience, focusing on the intricate ways neuropeptide signaling influences behavior and physiology in both healthy and disease states. His overarching goal is to unravel the mechanistic pathways by which neuropeptides regulate brain function and contribute to the modulation of various behavioral outcomes. To achieve this, he is developing an innovative suite of chemical and molecular tools designed to track and manipulate neuropeptide activity in real time, enabling a deeper understanding of how this diverse class of signaling molecules modulate activity in throughout the brain and body.
Rising Stars in Neuroscience 2024
Rising Stars in Neuroscience Symposium 2024
We are excited to announce the 4th annual symposium dates with details on our mission, features, and postdoctoral award of $5000!
Student Spotlight
We are excited to spotlight Arnulfo Tunon-Ortiz (Tuna), a student from the Neuroscience Program completing training in Megan Williams' Lab.
Arnulfo Tunon-Ortiz spent three weeks in July 2021 completing the Summer Program in Excellence and Success (SPINES) at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. This competitive and intensive program is designed to prepare trainees from diverse backgrounds to become future leaders in neuroscience by honing important professional skills.
My application to SPINES was my ticket into a highly competitive program and network of incredible people. The three weeks I spent at the MBL were transformative, to say the least. From science to professional development, every hour was filled with an enriching activity that challenged me as an academic and individual. Together, my cohort and I racked our brains over scientific questions and puzzles, celebrated and cheered for each other during presentations, laughed over dinner and drinks, and cried as we shared our stories with one another. In short, SPINES inspired newfound confidence in myself by providing the opportunity to engage the scientific community as a leader and speak my truth as an individual. The people I met, the experiences we shared, and the insights we realized will be something I'll carry beyond just my scientific career.
Faculty Highlight: Jessica Osterhout
Jessica Osterhout is an Assistant Professor of Neurobiology. Her lab utilizes cutting-edge approaches for behavioural characterization, viral-mediated functional circuit dessection, and single-cell gene expression analyses to better understand the principles governing immune-brain communication and generation of sickness symptoms.
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