Education:

• Undergrad: A.B. Biochemical Sciences, Harvard College, 1993
• Grad: PhD Biochemistry, Stanford University, 1999
• Postdoc: UC Berkeley Developmental Neurobiology 1999-2003

Research Interests:

Molecular mechanisms of excitatory synapse development, function, and plasticity in the CNS; Neuropharmacology

Research Summary:

My lab's main research interest is to understand molecular mechanisms of brain development, function and disease in rodent model systems. We used expression profiling as a tool to identify genes that are developmentally regulated during mouse brain development. Candidate genes are characterized with molecular and cellular techniques and transgenic mice. Currently, we have focused our efforts on molecules that function at excitatory synapses in the hippocampus, an area of the brain important for learning and memory. Specifically, we are investigating a family of brain-specific transmembrane proteins (SynDIG/Prrt) that associate with the AMPA-type glutamate receptor and are important for their trafficking to synapses during development and plasticity.

Lab Rotation Availability: Yes
PubMed listing