Interneuron Development in the Zebrafish Spinal Cord

The Lewis Lab moved to Syracuse University from Cambridge University in the UK in 2010. We use Genetics, Cell Biology and Developmental Biology to investigate how the correct number and pattern of interneurons forms in the vertebrate spinal cord, and how these interneurons acquire their specific characteristics and functions.

The vertebrate nervous system contains many different specialized neurons that form at characteristic positions and develop specific axonal connections and functions. Most of these neurons are interneurons, but we currently know very little about how different types of interneurons are specified.

We primarily use zebrafish embryos as a model system, as the embryos develop outside the mother and are transparent and their relatively simple nervous system facilitates studies of neuronal circuitry and function. We use transgenic lines of zebrafish in which neurons express Green Fluorescent protein to study these cells in live and fixed embryos. As most of the genes involved in spinal cord development are conserved between vertebrates, the insights that we gain about the functions of specific genes should be widely applicable.

A PhD project is available to investigate the roles of specific regulatory genes in determining different neuronal characteristics in the zebrafish spinal cord.

Experiments included in this project may include:

1. Investigating the functions of particular regulatory genes in interneuron specification by ectopically expressing mRNAs and/or knocking out gene function using mutants and examining the effects on molecular markers and interneuron characteristics such as morphology and neurotransmitter expression.

2. Observing the development and morphology of specific interneurons using confocal microscopy.

3. Determining which regulatory genes are expressed by particular interneurons using in situ hybridisation and antibody stainings and/or fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS) and microarray analysis.

4. Constructing lines of zebrafish in which Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) is expressed in cells that normally express a particular gene

5. Using calcium indicators such as the genetically encoded calcium indicator GCAMP to monitor the electrical activity of specific neurons in wild-type and experimental embryos during particular behaviours.

See http://lewislab.syr.edu/research.html for more information about our research.

Application Deadline: December 1st 2018 for a start date of end of August 2019. If it is after Dec 1st - please apply ASAP or contact us. In 2019 we will start to accept applications for August 2020.

Application information can be found at http://biology.syr.edu/graduate/programs.html

Syracuse has its own airport (15 minute drive from downtown) and is close to Toronto, New York City, Philadelphia, Montreal as well as the natural beauty of Upstate New York (Niagara Falls, The Finger Lakes, Adirondack lakes and mountains).

Syracuse University shares a campus with SUNY Upstate Medical University that has active research programs in Cell and Developmental Biology and Neuroscience http://www.upstate.edu/neuroscience-department/research/index.php.