Student Seminars and Defenses

Gregory Reilly - Ph.D. Candidate
Advisor: Doug Portman, Ph.D.

A key issue within the field of neuroscience is understanding how genetic programs in fixed neural circuits are able to guide state-dependent innate behaviors. Innate behavior is governed by the integration of both environmental stimuli and internal state. Biological sex represents a naturally occurring variation in internal state that has been shown to play a role in influencing animal behavior. For example, the simple nematode C. elegans are able to switch between locomotion behavior states based upon both external stimuli an internal state. However, much of this locomotive behavior has solely been studied in the hermaphrodite and not the male C. elegans. Males, unlike self-fertilizing hermaphodites, must integrate two major needs, feeding and finding a mate, to determine the optimal locomotive state. Understanding how mating cues from pheromones, different food stimuli, and biological sex influence C. elegans locomotor states will give key insights into how, on a fundamental level, neural circuits integrate sensory cues with internal state to generate adaptive behavioral flexibility. In this proposal, I will investigate how both pheromone mating cues and food signals influence the locomotive states of both male and hermaphrodite C. elegans.

 Dec 16, 2020 @ 10:00 a.m.

Host: Neuroscience Graduate Program

Maleelo Shamambo, Paige Nicklas, & Dennisha King

Sex-dependent Epigenetic Consequences of Developmental Lead and Prenatal Stress Exposure - Shamambo
Exploring the Comorbidity of Alzheimer's Disease and Age-Related Hearing Loss with the 5XFAD Mouse Model - Nicklas
Effectiveness of a Non-Invasive, Low-Intensity Brain Stimulation Approach in Addressing Emotional Regulation & Memory - King

 Dec 14, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

Kathleen Miller-Rhodes - Ph.D. Candidate
Advisor: Marc Halterman, M.D., Ph.D.

Acute ischemic stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in the aging population. Although available interventions improve recanalization rates, there remain no therapies to treat delayed ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). The discrete signals responsible for IRI involve a complex cascade of innate immune priming, neuroinflammation, and delayed post-ischemic neurodegeneration. Emerging evidence implicates organ crosstalk in the pathology of delayed central nervous system (CNS) damage following global cerebral ischemia. In this project, we tested the hypothesis that the prevailing inflammatory milieu within the lung is an essential determinant of post-stroke CNS injury. To test this, we investigated the relationship between acute brain ischemia, lung inflammation, and CNS reperfusion injury in the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model of stroke. In male C57Bl6J mice, ischemia-reperfusion was associated with pulmonary function changes, vascular inflammation, and airway immune infiltration. In post-stroke lung tissue, the loss of endogenous SOD3 correlated with increases in 4-HNE modified proteins indicative of elevated oxidant stress. Conversely, mice that express human SOD3 within type II pneumocytes (TgSOD3) exhibited lower post-stroke levels of 4-HNE protein modification and vessel inflammation versus wildtype controls. TgSOD3 mice exhibited reduced blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage and developed smaller infarct volumes 72 hours post-stroke. We also observed sex-related differences in the SOD3-dependent regulation of post-ischemic IRI. Higher basal expression of lung SOD3 observed in female mice was associated with smaller infarcts, a reduced burden of post-stroke hemorrhage, and lower myeloperoxidase levels, ICAM-1, and fibrinogen. These results collectively implicate lung-derived SOD3 as a modulator of neurovascular injury in acute ischemic stroke. Future work defining SOD3 regulation in the lung, lung-dependent immune priming, and the remote effects of SOD3 on the cerebrovasculature could open up a new field of lung-targeted therapies for stroke and other acute neuroglial disorders.

 Dec 08, 2020 @ 1:00 p.m.

Host: Neuroscience Graduate Program

Yanya Ding, John Gonzalez-Amoretti, & Bingyu Sun - Ph.D. Candidates

 Dec 07, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

Abigail Sawicki, Amy Bucklaew, & Ari Seldowitz - Ph.D. Candidates

 Nov 30, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

Evan Newbold, Bryan Crum, & Mike Giannetto - Ph.D. Candidates

 Nov 23, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

Victoria Popov & Bryan Redmond - Ph.D. Candidates

High-Density Electrical Mapping of Inhibitory Processes During Dual-Task Walking in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders - Popov
Comparison of MAIA and Humphrey Field Testing Results in Cortically Blind Patients Pre- and Post- Training - Redmond

 Nov 16, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

Aakanksha Singhvi, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor
Division of Basic Sciences
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA

We use our nervous system throughout life to sense the world around us and respond with meaningful behaviors. Enabling this are its two major cell types, neurons and glia, which exist in about equal numbers in the human brain. Constant glia-neuron molecular interactions are critical for nervous system development, function and aging and their impairment correlates with many neurological diseases. However, roles of glia in neural functions remain poorly understood in molecular mechanistic detail. We previously helped establish C. elegans as a powerful experimental platform to molecularly dissect glia-neuron interactions in vivo. This has led us to uncover novel molecular pathways and logic by which glia regulate neuron shape and animal behaviors. This includes our recent discovery that C. elegans glia prune neuron-endings through life, like mammalian glia. Our uncovering the underlying machinery at single glia-neuron resolution led us to find that glia actively direct pruning to control neuron shape and function, and identify the glial molecular rheostat tuning this process. Broad conservation and disease-relevance of all C. elegans glial cues and functions we are uncovering underscores the potential of this genetically tractable model to define glial roles in neural health and disease with exquisite speed and molecular precision.

 Nov 09, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

Host: Neuroscience Graduate Program

Brendan Whitelaw & Uday Chockanathan

 Nov 02, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

Dennis Jung - Ph.D. Candidate
Advisor: Adam Snyder, Ph.D.

 Oct 29, 2020 @ 1:00 p.m.

Host: Neuroscience Graduate Program

Karl Foley & Keshov Sharma - Ph.D. Candidates

 Oct 26, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

Ethics - Rigor - Reproducibility

 Oct 19, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

Neal Shah & Ally McHale - Ph.D. Candidates

 Oct 12, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

Emily Crosier & Kamy Wakim-Takaki - Ph.D. Candidates

Anatomical organization of feedback to the main olfactory bulb - Crosier
Structural and Functional brain changes in HIV+ individuals with and without comorbid cocaine use disorder - Wakim-Takaki

 Oct 05, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

Fei Shang - PhD Candidate

 Sep 30, 2020 @ 3:00 p.m.

Host: Neuroscience Graduate Program

Kathryn Toffolo - Ph.D. Candidate

 Sep 29, 2020 @ 1:00 p.m.

Host: Neuroscience Graduate Program

Fara Zukusilo - PhD Candidate

 Sep 29, 2020 @ 9:00 a.m.

Host: Neuroscience Graduate Program

Garrick Salois - Ph.D. Candidate

 Sep 28, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

Luke Shaw - PhD Candidate

 Sep 28, 2020 @ 1:00 p.m.

Host: Neuroscience Graduate Program

Cody McKee - PhD Candidate

 Sep 28, 2020 @ 12:00 p.m.

Host: Neuroscience Graduate Program

Silei Zhu - PhD Candidate

 Sep 28, 2020 @ 10:00 a.m.

Host: Neuroscience Graduate Program

Jingyi Yang - PhD Candidate

 Sep 23, 2020 @ 1:00 p.m.

Host: Neuroscience Graduate Program

Jacob Rudlong - PhD Candidate

 Sep 23, 2020 @ 11:00 a.m.

Host: Neuroscience Graduate Program

Holly Beaulac - Ph.D. Candidate

 Sep 21, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

Humberto Mestre - Ph.D. Candidate

 Sep 14, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

Keynote speaker: Cristina M. Alberini, Ph.D. - NYU - The Center for Neural Science

Annual retreat featuring student, postdoctoral, faculty, and keynote speakers.

 Sep 04, 2020 @ 9:00 a.m.

Host: Neuroscience Graduate Program, Department of Neuroscience, and Rochester Chapter of SfN

Laura Owlett - Ph.D. Candidate
Advisors: Kerry O'Banion & John Olschowka

 Sep 03, 2020 @ 1:00 p.m.

Host: Neuroscience Graduate Program

Margot Mayer-Proschel and Ken Henry

 Aug 31, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

Monique Mendes - Ph.D. Candidate
Advisor: Ania Majewska, Ph.D.

 Jul 31, 2020 @ 9:30 a.m.

Host: Neuroscience Graduate Program

Josh Hinkle - Ph.D. Candidate
Advisors: Kerry O’Banion, Ph.D. & John Olschowka, Ph.D.

 Jul 16, 2020 @ 10:00 a.m.

Host: Neuroscience Graduate Program

Patrick Miller-Rhodes - Ph.D. Candidate
Advisor: Handy Gelbard, Ph.D.

 Jul 14, 2020 @ 3:00 p.m.

Host: Neuroscience Graduate Program

Alejandra Rodriguez - Graduate Student
Advisor: David Paul, M.D.

 Jul 13, 2020 @ 9:00 a.m.

Host: Neuroscience Graduate Program

Samantha Abbott - Neuroscience Graduate Student
Advisor: Lizabeth Romanski

 Jun 19, 2020 @ 2:30 p.m.

Mark Stoessel - Ph.D. Candidate
Advisor: Ania Majewska, Ph.D.

 Jun 10, 2020 @ 10:00 a.m.

John Wilson & Alejandra Rodriguez - Neurobiology and Anatomy Master's of Science Candidates

Assessing the Effects of Kainic Acid-Induced Auditory Nerve Damage on Envelope-Following Responses in the Budgerigar - Wilson
Neuroprotective Role of Prolactin in the Visual System During Compressive Injury - Rodriguez

 May 11, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

Matthew Adusei & Michael Duhain - Neuroscience Ph.D. Candidates

Selectivity of MSTd neurons to optic flow patterns along curved paths - Duhain
Looking for corticogeniculate neurons in macaque area MT and/or ferret area PSS - Adusei

 May 04, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

Caitlin Sharp & Mark Stoessel - Neuroscience Ph.D. Candidates

Mechanisms of Cerebellar Microglial Dynamics - Stressel
The use of mobile brain/body imaging to examine neural dynamics while walking and their differences in schizophrenia spectrum disorders - Sharp

 Apr 27, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

Dennis Jung & Fei Shang - Neuroscience Ph.D. Candidates

?-smooth muscle actin expression in the retina of transgenic FvB Mice - Shang
In search of a latent visuospatial memorandum during a working memory delay period using EEG - Jung

 Apr 20, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

Linh Le & MaKenna Cealie - Ph.D. Candidates

The effects of alcohol on Alzheimer’s progression in 5xFAD mice - Le
Glia in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder - Cealie

 Apr 13, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

Sarah Yablonski & Johanna Fritzinger - Neuroscience Ph.D. Candidates

Observing Calcium Transients in Human Neural Progenitor Cells - Yablonski
Testing a new model of pitch coding in the Inferior Colliculus - Fritzinger

 Apr 06, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

John Wilson - Ph.D. Candidate
Advisor: Kenneth S. Henry

 Apr 02, 2020 @ 12:00 p.m.

Alesha Usuki & Silei Zhu - Ph.D. Candidates

The effect of A?O1-42 on the Redox/Fyn/c-Cbl Pathway - Usuki
LGN activity during inactivation of corticogeniculate (CG) feedback and Potential viral vectors for long-term CG manipulation - Zhu

 Mar 30, 2020 @ 3:30 p.m.

Anjali Sinha - Ph.D. Candidate

 Mar 30, 2020 @ 1:00 p.m.

Host: J. Chris Holt

Ross Madddox & Margot Mayer-Pröschel

 Mar 23, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

Mark Stoessel & Silei Zhu - Neuroscience Ph.D. Candidates

 Mar 16, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307 (3-6408)

Jingyi Yang & Cody McKee - Neuroscience Ph.D. Candidates

The Effect of Contrast Training on Vision in Cortically-Blind Patients - Yang
Elucidating the Potential Roles of Protein Phosphatase 1 on Tau Localization and Function - McKee

 Mar 02, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307 (3-6408)

Univ. Rochester Neuroscience Graduate Program

 Feb 28, 2020 @ 7:00 a.m.

 Medical Center | 

Luke Shaw & Kathryn Toffolo - Neuroscience Ph.D. Candidates

Semantic Integration, the N400, and Autism Spectrum Disorder – Toffolo
Age related changes of visuomotor behaviors in the Common Marmoset– Shaw

 Feb 24, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307 (3-6408)

Shraddha Shah & Jake Rudlong - Neuroscience Ph.D. Candidates

Investigating the Functional and Pathological Roles of Transglutaminase 2 in Astrocytes - Rudlong
Attentional Modulation of Multiunit Activity in LGN and V1 - Shah

 Feb 17, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307 (3-6408)

Greg Reilly & Sam Abbott - Neuroscience Ph.D. Candidates

Connections of Touch-responsive Amygdala Neurons - Abbott
Multi-sensory integration in C. Elegans - Reilly

 Feb 10, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307 (3-6408)

Univ. Rochester Neuroscience Graduate Program

 Feb 07, 2020 @ 7:00 a.m.

 Medical Center | 

Fara Zakusilo & Anjali Sinha - Neuroscience Ph.D. Candidates

CNS inflammation in nmrHAS2 mice - Zakusilo
Characterization of mouse behavioral model for probing vestibular efferent system - Sinha

 Feb 03, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307 (3-6408)

Brendan Whitelaw & Uday Chockanathan - Neuroscience Ph.D. Candidates

Alterations in the correlated activity of mitral and tufted cells in the main olfactory bulb during locomotion in the mouse - Chockanathan
The role of PI3Kg in microglia dynamics and experience dependent synaptic plasticity - Whitelaw

 Jan 27, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307 (3-6408)

Emily Przysinda & Laura Owlett - Neuroscience Ph.D. Candidates

Neural Differences in the Theory of Mind Network during Socially Awkward Events in Schizophrenia - Przysinda

 Jan 13, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m.

 Medical Center | K-307 (3-6408)