Mentor Areas
Our lab focuses on the study of childhood neurodegenerative disorders. We combine animal models and human stem cell derived cultures, and apply sequencing, proteomic and imaging methods to gain insights into functional and molecular differences between resistant and vulnerable neuronal populations. Our ultimate goal is to better understand human brain complexity in health and disease and uncover therapeutic targets for neurological disorders.
Description:
Emerging evidences indicate that posttranscriptional mechanisms are involved in the control and maintenance of neuronal type specific particularities. Indeed, disruption of protein synthesis frequently results in dysfunction of specific neuronal types but not others, leading to neurological disorders of divers nature. This project aims to analyze neuronal type specific protein synthesis landscape and how it evolves during development and differentiation to each neuronal population. Once we establish differences between neuronal populations we will subject relevant models including animal models and human stem cell derived cultures, to disease associated manipulations. Finally we will measure how protein synthesis is altered in each neuronal population exposed to disease stimuli. This work holds the promise to improve our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms that control neuronal subtype particularities and function in health and disease, and to uncover new routes to advance neurological disease treatment options.
The student will be responsible of running the experiments. This is a project with different questions to address and these will be assigned to the student depending on availability and previous experience.
This project will begin in the summer, with the potential to continue after.
The research project will be volunteer, work-study, or paid based on previous experience or experience that students gain while volunteering in the lab.
Preferred Qualifications
Knowledge on mRNA translation and proteomics, cell culture and/or computational skills are preferred but not essential.
Details:
Preferred Student Year
Second-Year, Junior, Senior
Project Academic Year
2023–2024
Volunteer
Yes
Paid
No
Yes indicates that faculty are open to paying students they engage in their research, regardless of their work-study eligibility.Work Study
Yes
Yes indicates that faculty are open to hiring work-study-eligible students.