Hieronymus, Tobin
We investigate the structural, functional, and evolutionary integration of the musculoskeletal and integumentary systems using bird wings as a model.
Piet, Richard
We investigate the hypothalamic neuronal circuits that control that activity of gonadotropin-releasing homrone neurons, gonadotropin hormone secretion, gonadal function and fertility.
Rosen, Merri
We investigate how stress and hearing problems early in life alter neural circuits and impair auditory perception. To elucidate the mechanisms that produce such deficits, we apply neurophysiological, neurochemical, behavioral, and quantitative techniques in an animal model.
Dutta, Ranjan
We investigate the mechanisms underlying neurological disability in central nervous system diseases like multiple sclerosis. The laboratory employs modern techniques to address hypothesis driven studies using human samples, animal models and in vitro methods.
Edler, Melissa
My laboratory’s research focuses on comparative neurobiology with an emphasis on aging, neuroinflammation, and neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases). Using an evolutionary perspective, we investigate neurological variances across species, particularly nonhuman primates, as possible mechanisms of humans’ unique vulnerability to aging and neurodegeneration and human-specific cognitive specializations.
Lu, Yong
We investigate cellular mechanisms of auditory processing, focusing on neuromodulation under health and disease conditions. Electrophysiological (whole-cell recording) and optical imaging (calcium imaging) approaches, combined with genetic and pharmacological tools, are employed.
Takeshita, Rafaela
We investigate hormones as mediators of behavior, growth, aging and reproductive strategies in nonhuman primates.
Raghanti, Mary Ann
We investigate the neuroanatomical bases of what it means to be human. We use a comparative approach to understanding how the human brain differs from other species, including our susceptibility to neuropathological processes such as Alzheimer's disease.
Longworth, Michelle
We investigate the protein complexes and mechanisms that regulate genome organization throughout the cell cycle, and we study the consequences of disrupting DNA organization during development and for disease pathogenesis. We also study the role of retrotransposons in DNA organization, development and disease pathogenesis.
Schmidt, Thorsten
Our lab develps DNA-based nanoscale lipid bilayer mimetics for the structure determination of membrane proteins by cryo-electron microscopy. Moreover, we study mechanical properties of tightly bent DNA that govern biological processes including transcription, gene regulation and packing in the nucleus.