Recent Dissertation Titles

Listed below are the dissertation thesis titles authored by doctoral degree conferees in the past two academic years. Titles are listed with student’s name and mentor.

"Mechanisms of Volatile Odorant Detection and Corresponding Behavioral Effects in Drosophila"

David Samuel Ronderos
Mentor: Dean P. Smith, M.D., Ph.D.

"Behavioral, Neurochemical, and Histological Characterization of Mice Deficient for Parkin, DJ-1, and Antioxidant Proteins"

Katherine Webster Seamans
Mentor: Matthew S. Goldberg, Ph.D.

"Familiar Food-Induced Feeding Activation in C. elegans"

Bo-mi Song
Mentor: Leon Avery, Ph.D.

"Genetic Reduction of Cholesterol Synthesis in the Mouse Brain Does not Affect Amyloid Formation in an Alzheimer's Disease Model, but Does Extend Lifespan"

Rebekkah Lynn Warren
Mentor: David W. Russell, Ph.D.

"Astrocytic Contribution to the Glutamatergic Transmission in Schizophrenia"

Ana Despina Stan
Mentor: Carol A. Tamminga, M.D.

"EphB: Ephrin-B Bidirectional Signaling in Retinocollicular Mapping"

Sonal G. Thakar
Mentor: Mark J. Henkemeyer, Ph.D.

"Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Depression-Related Behavior and Rapid Antidepressant Action"

Anita Autry
Mentor: Lisa Monteggia, Ph.D.

"TDP-43 is Directed to Stress Granules by Sorbitol:  A Novel Physiological Osmotic and Oxidative Stressor"

Colleen M. Dewey
Mentor: Gang Yu, Ph.D.

"The Role of a Neuron-Specific V-ATPase in Synapse Specification, Function, and Maintenance"

Wallace Ryan Williamson
Mentor: P. Robin Hiesinger, Ph.D.

"Identification of Molecular Mechanisms that Underlie the Development and Treatment of Manic-Like Behaviors in Mice: the Importance of Cholecystokinin and Chromatin Modifications"

Rachel Nicole Arey
Mentor: Colleen McClung, Ph.D.

"Molecular Pathogenesis of Autism: A Role for Neurexin and Neuroligin"

Mark Richard Etherton
Mentor: Thomas Südhof, M.D.

"Regulation of Circadian Genes by Cocaine in Striatal Regions and Their Role in Drug Reward"

Edgardo Falcon
Mentor: Colleen A. McClung, Ph.D.

"An Examination of the Mechanisms of Neocortical Network Excitability in a Mouse Model of Fragile X Syndrome"

Seth Alanson Hays
Mentors: Kimberly Huber, Ph.D./Jay Gibson, Ph.D.

"Modulating Calcium Signaling Pathways in Cerebellar Purkinje Cells Alleviates Spinocerebellar Ataxia 2"

Adebimpe Wakilat Kasumu
Mentor: Ilya Bezprozvanny, Ph.D.

"A Study on an FMRP-Mediated Translational Switch in the mGluR-Triggered Translation of Arc and Synaptic Plasticity"

Farr Niere
Mentor: Kimberly M. Huber, Ph.D.

"The Role of CLOCK in the Regulation of Dopamine Neurotransmission in the ClockΔ19 Mutant Mouse Model"

Sade Monique Spencer
Mentor: Colleen A. McClung, Ph.D.

"Characterizing the Molecular Mechanisms of Axon Guidance: Activation and Regulation of the Axon Guidance Receptor Plexin A"

Taehong Yang
Mentor: Jonathan R. Terman, Ph.D.