Neuroscience | Interdisciplinary Program
Dr. Kara Pratt
Director, Neuroscience Graduate Program
Biological Sciences Building Room 213
Phone: (307) 223-6402
Debbie Swierczek
Program Coordinator
Knight Hall 247
Phone: (307) 766-4128
Email: neuroscience@uwyo.edu
Meet the incredible students who shape our neuroscience program! Each student collaborates closely with our esteemed faculty in cutting-edge labs, conducting groundbreaking research that makes a real impact.
Lab: Dr. Yun Li
The Li lab studies how neural activity carries information to guide behavior. We study early neural circuit alterations using mouse models of neurodegenerative disorders. We apply multidisciplinary approaches, including innovative miniScope in vivo calcium imaging in freely behaving mice, in combination of optogenetics and viral-genetic tools, to study neural circuit mechanisms of depression, autism, and dementia.
Lab: Dr. Grace Shearrer
I study the intersection between neuroscience and nutrition, specifically the association between brain functions, neurochemical signaling, and eating behavior. We seek to identify neuroendocrinal changes in obesity using eye-tracking, fMRI, programming, and some fancy 3D printing!
Lab: Dr. Brandon Roberts
My research in Roberts lab is focused understanding the mechanisms underlying adulthood obesity using neurophysiological approaches.
Lab: Dr. Jared Bushman
My project aims to ascertain the regenerative differences and capabilities of branched peripheral nerve autografts vs. allografts. In addition to branched grafts, I also consider the immunogenic effects of allografts and the impact that has on the nerve’s regenerative success.
Lab: Dr. Jared Bushman
My research is focused on investigation the interrelation between glycosylation and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by probing the regulatory machinery/hotspots of glycosylation in the AD mice brain hippocampus. This research employs behavioral, transcriptomic, and molecular and immunofluorescent assays to achieve an outcome that will have therapeutic relevance to AD pathology.
Lab: Dr. Ram Shukla
My research focuses on understanding the role of ribosomal heterogeneity in major depressive disorder. Specifically, I aim to identify changes in ribosomal stoichiometry and phosphorylation associated with stress-related phenotypes. To achieve this, I take a multidisciplinary approach, integrating studies on postmortem MDD subjects, chronic variable stress (CVS)-exposed mice, and in vitro models.
Lab: Dr. Ram Shukla
My research focuses on uncovering the molecular mechanisms underlying mood disorders, with a particular emphasis on ribosome heterogeneity. We investigate how stress-induced alterations in ribosome composition influence neuronal function and contribute to mood-related pathologies. Using postmortem brain samples, stress-exposed animal models, and primary neurons, I employ transcriptomic-translatomic integration to examine ribosome-associated mRNA dynamics and changes in the ribosomal translation program and its efficiency. Our work also emphasizes translational research, aiming to bridge fundamental discoveries with potential therapeutic strategies for neuropsychiatric disorders.
Lab: Dr. Yun Li
Centered on systems neuroscience, I am using mouse models to investigate the function of prefrontal neural circuits and how their dysfunctions contribute to human brain disorders under the supervision of Dr. Yun Li. My main research project employs innovative techniques like miniscope in vivo calcium imaging and coupled with TRAP2 facilitated neuromodulation to understand the neural circuit based pathogenic mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia.
Lab: Dr. William Todd
My research interests revolve around the neural basis of learning and memory through the view of the circadian rhythm. I am interested in extending this curiosity to touch on questions regarding the impact different circadian time points have on addictive behaviors with a focus on extinction related phenomena.
Lab: Dr. William Todd
In mice, I am inducing viral vector expression to investigate neural subpopulations in the lateral parabrachial nucleus of the brainstem and their input into the circadian center, located in the hypothalamus. In doing this, I hope to better understand these neural subtypes, their role in influencing our circadian rhythm, and how their function may be altered in Alzheimer's disease.
Lab: Dr. Yun Li
I study depression in the medial and prefrontal cortex and amygdala using a mouse model under Dr. Li. Depression is induced in the mice through chronic social defeat stress models and techniques such as grin lens imlantation and viral infections are used to study/manipulate the behavior of the mice. The main purpose of the research is to gain a better understanding on the neurobiology and molecular mechanisms of depression.
Lab: Drs. William Todd & Jonathan Prather
My goal is to identify factors that influence sensory perception and take advantage of these factors to improve the quality of learning experiences. To achieve this goal, I plan on examining the learning experiences of grade school and undergraduate students in the classroom under the supervision of Dr. Prather, and investing circadian rhythms as potential factors influencing sensory perception in mice under the supervision of Dr. Todd.
Lab: Dr. Qian-Quan Sun
I am studying decision-making behavior in relation to the medial prefrontal cortex, specifically the dorsomedial and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Using Mini two-photon imaging, I aim to gain insights into the cellular dynamics and functional roles of neurons in these regions that may be correlated with operantly conditioned behaviors during decision-making.
Lab: Dr. Adam Nelson
My research focuses on developing computational pipelines that integrate thermal imaging and neural manipulation techniques to explore the relationships between neural activity, physiological responses, and behavior. Specifically, I investigate the neural mechanisms underlying social and thermoregulatory behaviors in mice, aiming to uncover how these systems interact. By combining neural imaging, computer vision, and artificial intelligence, I develop innovative methods to analyze these connections with high precision.
Lab: Dr. William Todd
My research focuses on understanding sex differences in Alzheimer’s disease, and how sex hormones affect circadian rhythms and Alzheimer’s disease pathology such as hyperphosphorylated Tau. I aim to investigate how sexual dimorphisms in receptor expression in the hypothalamus and the brain stem may contribute to worse pathology and behavior in females compared to males.
Lab: Dr. Ram Shukla
My research involves studying molecular mechanisms behind Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in mouse depression models. The study’s cornerstone lies in the hypothesis that variations in ribosome composition can influence the translational landscape of neurons, thereby affecting their response to depressive states. By utilizing techniques such as polysome profiling and high throughput proteomic analysis, we anticipate uncovering specific ribosomal signatures that correlate with altered neuronal behavior in depression.
Lab: Dr. Nicole Bedford
During my undergraduate, I cultivated a deep interest in the neural basis of motor control, and the urination circuit offers an unusually tractable model system in which to study the general principles of motor control. Unlike other motor behaviors that are executed by multiple muscles and complex muscle synergies, urination relies on only two muscles: the urinary bladder and urethral sphincter. Additionally, the neuronal projections that allow the brain to communicate with the lower urinary tract via the spinal cord are well-characterized. During my PhD, I will work to uncover how aging affects circadian regulation of this urination circuit.
Lab: Dr. Brandon Roberts
My research focuses on elucidating the neural mechanisms that drive metabolic dysfunction in a time-of-day-dependent manner in response to early-life overnutrition. My focal point is to specifically investigate how early life overnutrition affects the neurophysiology of the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARH), a critical region foe energy homeostasis. Using chronic postnatal overnutrition (CPO) as a mouse model for childhood obesity, I seek to characterize the functional alterations in ARH-NPH 'hunger' neurons, with a particular emphasis on how KATP channels contribute to leptin resistance. By uncovering how CPO disrupts the daily rhytms of metabolic signaling, the end goal is to propose targe interventions to improve long-term metabolic health.
Lab: Dr. Kara Pratt
My research interests are about the visual system of the Xenopus Laevis tadpoles. Currently, I'm focusing on the retinotegmentum circuitry and its function related to both visual and non-visual stimuli. I'm also interested in discovering the importance and functionality of hindbrain projection to the midbrain tegmental region.
Neuroscience | Interdisciplinary Program
Dr. Kara Pratt
Director, Neuroscience Graduate Program
Biological Sciences Building Room 213
Phone: (307) 223-6402
Debbie Swierczek
Program Coordinator
Knight Hall 247
Phone: (307) 766-4128
Email: neuroscience@uwyo.edu