| Faculty Research | |
Science Faculty Research Interests
| One of the great advantages of a Trinity education is the opportunity to engage in original research with faculty members. Many students publish their work and have the opportunity to travel to meetings to present their research. This list is prepared to provide both general information about faculty research activities and specific projects available for First-Year ISP Research Apprentices. Students should use this list to identify faculty with projects they wish to explore and then contact the faculty directly for an appointment to discuss the details of possible projects. Unless otherwise noted, students should assume that any faculty member on the list is a potential research mentor for their Apprenticeship. |
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Professor Daniel Blackburn
Functional Morphology & Reproductive Biology of Vertebrates My current research concentrates on the structure, function, and evolution of reproductive specializations in reptiles, particularly features associated with the reproductive pattern of viviparity (live-bearing reproduction). This work draws heavily on microscopic anatomy, and students interested in working with me ideally should gain experience with electron microscopy, during or (even better) before their senior year. Our excellent new EM facilities <http://www2.trincoll.edu/~blackbur/EM.html> in the LSC and McCook, and various courses, including Biology 210 and Biology 350, offer wonderful opportunities for Trinity students to learn techniques of immense value to biologists and neuroscientists. I do have options for students who wish to focus their attention at the level of light microscopy. Research of several of my recent students has resulted in collaborative research <http://www2.trincoll.edu/~blackbur/student.html> publications or presentations at scientific meetings.
In viviparous lizards and snakes, embryos develop inside the pregnant female, and are sustained by means of placental organs. My main research interest is in understanding the structure, function, and evolution of these placentas. Our current work is focusing on how anatomical characteristics of the placental membranes of viviparous snakes enhance provision of oxygen, water, and nutrients to the fetus during the three-month gestation period. This work involves examination of the cytology and development of the uterus and extraembryonic membranes, using light and electron microscopy.
During development, vertebrate eggs are sustained by membranes that provide for the respiratory and nutritional needs of the developing embryos. These membranes contribute to the placentas of viviparous species. In reptiles and birds, very little is known about the structural composition of these membranes, and how they develop and function. Our current work on corn snakes (Elaphe) uses light and electron microscopy to study the development and cytology of these membranes. In the near future, we shall build on recent work done in my lab on quail egg development, as a means of understanding the structure, function, and evolution of these membranes in birds. Professor Robert Fleming
As an organism develops, cells differentiate into specialized cell types and adopt specific patterns of gene expression. Using molecular and genetic techniques in the fruit fly, my laboratory is attempting to understand the mechanisms that control cell differentiation in embryonic and adult tissues. The focus of our work is on the Serrate gene, which encodes an evolutionarily conserved transmembrane protein capable of physically binding to and activating the NOTCH receptor gene at the same site where another ligand, that of the Delta locus, also binds. During the formation of the adult wing blade, the wing margin is established via NOTCH activation using both the SERRATE and DELTA ligands. Our studies indicate that NOTCH responds differentially to these respective ligands, eliciting compartment-specific responses in gene regulation. We have utilized site-specific mutagenesis to define domains of SERRATE that confer receptor-response specificity. Our goal is to understand how identified molecular and genetic interactions control cellular differentiation in specific cell types, and to locate and characterize other genes involved in this process. Another area of interest in our laboratory is nuclear import. Molecules enter and exit the eukaryotic nucleus in a regulated manner involving selective transport by proteins known as importins. We study the importin-alpha gene family which consists of three members: imp-alpha1, imp-alpha2, and imp-alpha3. Our findings indicate that although all three can perform the same function in some cellular processes, each is likely to have specific individual functions as well. Our studies are focussed on determining what the specific functions are for each of these proteins. In our research, we employ a battery of techniques from genetic selection through in vitro mutagenesis and germline microinjection to specifically address structure and function relationships among interacting genes.
Professor Lisa-Anne Foster
Bacteria are considered to be relatively simple organisms by most. However,
these microscopic beings possess elegant systems of for responding to
environmental changes. When infecting a host, bacteria encounter important
cues such as temperature and nutrient availability that help the microbes
orient themselves within the host. In
many organisms a novel set of proteins is made during infection allowing them
to acquire iron from the host or to synthesize new proteins related to iron
use or storage. A continuing
focus in my lab has been the understanding of how bacteria meet their need for
iron during infection. Bordetella bronchiseptica is a bacterium causing
animal disease, which is closely related to the human pathogen, B.
pertussis (the etiologically agent of whooping cough). This organism lives
in the upper respiratory tract of a mammalian host where it likely competes
for lactoferrin and heme as sources of iron. We are currently studying the
heme biosynthetic pathway in this organism. We have cloned and sequenced the hemA
gene, the first committed step in heme biosynthesis.
Our goal is to understand what environmental signals control the
synthesis of heme in this organism. Projects available for students include:
With the help of students, my research interests are expanding to now include
the application of bioinformatics to the understanding of microbial
pathogenesis. Student researchers
in my lab have begun to determine the optimal conditions for amplifying
bacterial DNA from clinical samples using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Once DNA fragments have been amplified, these molecules will be
sequenced and analyzed using computer software in an attempt to identify the
bacteria present in such complex environments as the upper respiratory tract
of individuals living in a communal setting (such as a college dorm). Professor Hebe Guardiola-Diaz
Neuronal development, differentiation, communication, plasticity and programmed death depend on changes in gene expression. Neurons express a number of nuclear receptors that can act as ligand-activated transcription factors and orchestrate important transcriptional changes that satisfy demands for new proteins that directly play various roles in nerve cells. One such nuclear receptor, PPARd, is expressed in developing and adult nervous tissue. One of the questions we are focusing on is the elucidation of the role of this receptor in neuronal development. To answer this question we are taking several complimentary approaches:
Identification of novel nuclear receptors in nervous tissue. In addition I am interested in establishing a high throughput fluorescence-based assay to identify new molecules that can induce the neuronal phenotype. This long-term project will combine biochemical and molecular genetics and may open up new areas of interest and investigation. f.
Chemistry - Neuroscience
1. Identification of Neurochemical Causes of Nigrostriatal Cell Death
2. Development and Application of HPLC and Capillary Electrophoresis Separation Methods to Amino Acid Measurements in Biological Tissue. Capillary electrophoresis provides for the analysis of very small (submicroliter) biological samples and, through the use of laser-induced fluorescence detection, the determination of trace quantities of important biological neurocompounds. . We are utilizing this technique to quantify Glutamate, Aspartate, and GABA in both extracellular fluid and brain tissue homogenates of rats and guinea pigs. This project involves investigations into various chromatographic and instrumental strategies which increase the detection and separation capabilities of the method The use of cyclodextrins as separation buffer modifiers has been shown to improve the fluorescence signal, resolution, and analysis time of naturally flourescent molecules. This method is currently being investigated for the determination of naphthalenedialdehyde derivatized amino acids. Additional studies utilizing indirect fluorescence detection methods as a means of eliminating the derivatization step from the analysis are also currently underway. 3. Development of Analytical Methods to Monitor Dynamic Release of Biological Compounds into Culture Medium. This project address the very challenging analytical problem of monitoring the release of important chemicals from cell culture neurons into the culture medium in real time. Due to the small amount of analytes in the medium, capillary electrophoresis is currently the analytical method being investigated to quantify compounds such as arachidonic acid and glutamate. Professor David E. Henderson
Identification of an antioxidant in Mexican Oregano using IR, NMR, MAss Spectrometry etc. and determination of the relative antioxidant strength. This project begins with the extraction of the herb and will hopefully end with a chemical structure.
Proposed project for new students - I want to see if I can measure some chemical in well water that could only come from septic tank contamination. I will try to develop a quick method of concentrating organic chemicals from well water and then a rapid mass spectrometric method for analysis of organic chemicals in the water. The ultimate goal is to prove contamination and develop a model for how contamination varies with rainfall.
Professor Richard V. Prigodich 1. Studies of the osteocalcin/hydroxyapatite complex
One project involves synthesizing fragments of osteocalcin (peptides on a peptide synthesizer) to find which portion of osteocalcin binds to collagen. Another project will utilize infra-red spectroscopy of osteocalcin in solution and bound to the hydroxyapatite mineral to determine the protein structure under different conditions.
2.
Footprinting E. coli
SSB/ssDNA complexes by CE
The
goal of this project is to characterize the structure of SSB/ssDNA
complexes by using modified footprinting techniques and capillary
electrophoresis (CE). SSB (single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) binding protein)
is the name given to a class of proteins involved in the replication,
recombination and repair of DNA. SSB's
bind to these regions and thereby perform their several functions:
protecting ssDNA from nucleases; inhibiting formation of ssDNA secondary
structure; etc. There are
SSB's in bacteriophage, prokaryotes, viruses and eukaryotic cells.
A footprint shows where a
protein binds to DNA. If a
protein/DNA complex is treated with a low molecular weight reactant
which can induce strand cleavage in DNA, the DNA can be cut at every
nucleotide which is accessible to the reactant.
Nucleotides covered by the protein will not react!
The reactant concentration is kept low enough so that DNA
molecules are cut a maximum of one time, and most are not cut at all.
Next you must separate and visualize the fragments by some means.
This is usually done by electrophoresis and autoradiography. This gives you a picture that looks like the rungs of a
ladder. There is a rung for
each nucleotide in the DNA. What
you will notice is that some rungs are much fainter than others.
These correspond to nucleotides that are covered by the protein.
This is what is known as the footprint.
Until recently this has only been applied to double-stranded
DNA/protein complexes. Our
lab is the first to apply it to ssDNA/protein complexes. The problem with obtaining footprints by slab electrophoresis is that you must radioactively label the DNA and it is sometimes very difficult to separate fragments that differ by one nucleotide at the ends of polynucleotides. CE uses a very narrow (50 micron) gel-filled capillary to separate the fragments. The DNA is labeled with a fluorescent marker and nanomole amounts of sample are adequate. The fragments are detected with a spectrometer. Separation of individual fragments across the entire length of the DNA is possible and the amount of each fragment is easily and accurately quantifiable. Our lab is also the first to apply CE to footprinting. Professor Ralph Morelli
Emeritus Professors Walde (CPSC) and I are studying classical encryption algorithms as well as techniques for "breaking" encrypted messages using Genetic Algorithms (GAs) and other heuristic search techniques. Although not absolutely necessary, an ISP student, interested in this project, would ideally have some programming experience (e.g., in Java or C++). Professor David J. AhlgrenResearch Areas:
Research Areas:
Professor John Mertens
High-temperature combustion reactions in shock tubes, optical diagnostics,
computational
Professor Taikang Ning
Digital
signal and image processing, real-time embedded systems and FPGA design
Professor Christoph GeissResearch Students are currently conducting research on several projects, using the equipment of the rock-magnetism laboratory and the facilities of the Environmental Sciences Program. Some of the projects are listed below:
For more information, please visit Professor Geiss' website: http://www.trincoll.edu/~cgeiss/research.htm
Professor Draper will be investigating the environmental impact of airborne
automobile tire particles and leachate. Tire rubber poses a serious
environmental threat in the U.S.. Over two billion stockpiled scrap tires leach
into the water supply and automobile tire loss of 90 mg/km contributes to road
dust and respirable particles. Additionally, scrap tires are used in aquatic
environments (as breakwaters, docks, etc.) and in roadway and playground
construction. Particles are known to contain a complex mixture of compounds
including metals, and a wide variety of organic compounds. Experimentally, we
will carry out a toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) study to determine the
compound(s) responsible for ecosystem toxicity. To do so, a tire leachate will
be prepared by extracting shredded tire rubber in water. This tire leachate will
be subfractionated by polarity using ion chromatography and solid-phase
extraction, and subfractions will be tested for toxicity. When toxicity is
isolated to one subfraction, that aliquot will be further fractionated, and the
process repeated. In this way, mixtures can be tested without knowing the
chemical composition until the mixture is sufficiently subfractionated as to
allow chemical analysis. We are especially interested in sub-lethal responses in
snails (reproduction) and fathead minnows (enzyme induction). FACULTY RESEARCH IN NEUROSCIENCE 2006-2007 Prof. Daniel Blackburn - Functional morphology and reproductive biology of vertebrates Biology - Functional Morphology
My research has focused on the evolution of reptilian reproductive specializations -- notably, viviparity and placental organs. In past years, I also have supervised student projects on the effects of androgenic steroids on sexually dimorphic musculature in frogs. Our work focuses at the microscopic level, and students who would like to work in my lab should gain experience with light and/ or electron microscopy, preferably before their senior year. Our EM facilities in LSC and McCook, and our courses in transmission EM and in scanning EM offer a wonderful opportunity for Trinity students to learn techniques of immense value to biologists and neuroscientists.
· Placental formation and fetal nutrition in live-bearing squamates In viviparous reptiles, embryos develop inside the pregnant female, and are sustained by means of placental organs. My main research interest is in understanding the structure, function, and evolution of these placentas. Our current work is focusing on how anatomical characteristics of the placental membranes of viviparous snakes enhance provision of oxygen, water, and nutrients to the fetus during gestation. This work involves examination of the cytology and development of the uterus and extraembryonic membranes, using light and electron microscopy. Other work has focused on the structure and function of fetal membranes of oviparous snakes, to allow for comparisons of oviparous and viviparous species.
Engineering - Neuroscience
Prof. Blaise’s research is currently focused on long-term synaptic plasticity of biological networks of neurons in the hippocampus. More specifically, Prof. Blaise investigates changes in how the brain adapts to novel stimuli during early postnatal development. In addition, Dr. Blaise is currently investigating the role of the amygdala in memory consolidation. Specifically, he is interested in studying the nature of the functional link in overall synaptic response properties between neurons in the basolateral amygdala (important for emotional responses) and those in the hippocampus (implicated in memory function). Further, Prof. Blaise is also interested in studying the impact of the absence of the Adenosine A1 protein receptor in the ability of the hippocampus to process new information in genetically manipulated knock-out mice which lack the gene for the A1R protein receptor. Prof. Blaise is also interested in developing computational models of neural networks he studies in vivo. This includes the integration of computational modeling of biophysical phenomena with experimental findings in freely behaving animal systems.
Engineering - Neuroscience
These students will be given the opportunity to become familiar with electrophysiological techniques, e.g., building electrodes, using recording and stimulating instruments and performing computer analysis of bioelectric events. Upon completion of these skill oriented activities, they will be able to participate in studies investigating the effect of dietary insults on brian plasticity, such as kindling and long-term potentiation.
Chemistry - Neuroscience
1. Identification of Neurochemical Causes of Nigrostriatal Cell Death Oxidative stress, with the subsequent generation of oxygen free-radicals, is thought to play a role in the neurodegenerative processes observed in Parkinson's disease. The neuronal sources of these radicals and the endogenous anti-oxidant mechanisms present in brain to control oxidative stress have recently been the focus of intensive investigations. While it has been established that an environment conducive to oxidative stress (deficiencies in anti-oxidant mechanisms and increased levels of iron) exists in the substantia nigra of parkinsonian patients, a fundamental understanding of the chemical reactions responsible for the cell death associated with Parkinson's disease is lacking. The research conducted in my laboratory is designed to provide insight into these reactions. Currently experiments focus on identifying factors associated with susceptability to various neurotoxins. Ongoing projects regarding this research area include the manipulation of uric acid levels in the nigrostriatal system of guinea pigs (Church and Rappolt, Exp. Brain Res., 127 (1999) 147-150), the effect of anti-oxidant deficiencies on MPTP destruction of dopamine cells in guinea pigs, the role of NMDA receptor expression on dopamine cell death (using cell cultures). Techniques utilized in this research include HPLC, spectroscopy, immunochemistry, cell culture, uptake of radioactive isotopes, and histology.
2. Analysis of Human Parkinsonian Brain Tissue using LC/MS -- The specific goal of this project is the development of and LC/MS separation and analysis technique to study the neurochemical changes in brain tissue of humans diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Work in this lab has resulted in the identification of several neurochemical abnormalities in human parkinsonian brain tissue (Church and Ward, Brain Res Bull 33 (1994) 419-425). This study was limited in the number of compounds investigated by the analytical technique employed (HPLC/ED/UV). This project will result in the ability to simultaneously measure multiple neurochemical systems. This is important given that oxidative stress, the putative causes of Parkinsons disease, impacts numerous systems within the brain (dopamine, glutamate, antioxidants, and radical scavengers). Development of an LC/MS technique to measure these various compounds will provide unique information regarding the interrelationship of these systems to the neurochemical changes associated with Parkinson's disease. Tissue samples have already been obtained from the UCLA Brain Bank. The long term research program involves the investigation of the role of antioxidants (ascorbic acid and uric acid) in neurodegeneration. The student interested in this project would be involved in basic library research and laboratory method development, as well as some fundamental work using the MS data system.
Prof. Kent Dunlap - Behavioral Physiology of Communication in Electric Fish Biology - Neuroscience
I examine sensory mechanisms, hormonal regulation and evolution of communication behavior in electric fish. South American weakly electric fish are nocturnally active and live in muddy waters of the Amazon River basin. They use their electric discharges both for locating objects in the environment and for communicating with each other. Males and females give off distinct electric signals during courtship and aggression, and these sex differences are generated through the actions of steroid hormones such as testosterone and estrogen.
My present research has three components. First, I try to decode their “electric language” used in social interaction by observing fish in different behavioral contexts. I modify specific sensory stimuli and examine how the fish’s electrical signals change. Second, I examine how social interaction influences the production of new brain cells during adulthood. I house fish in pairs and in isolation and determine how this alters cell birth and neuronal differentiation. We also have begun labeling brain sections with markers of neuronal activity to see if these newborn cells become active during the production of electrocommunication signals. Finally, I compare hormonal regulation of the electrocommunication system in various species to address how the endocrine system evolves to generate a diversity of sex-specific electrocommunication behaviors.
Prof. Hebe Guardiola-Diaz - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Nuclear Receptors in the Nervous System Biology - Neuroscience
Neuronal development, plasticity and communication depend upon changes in gene expression that often require participation of nuclear receptors. The ligand-activated nuclear receptors PPARs, are present in developing and in adult nervous tissue. There are three PPAR subtypes. PPARa is best known for its role in liver, where it controls lipid metabolism. PPARg has been firmly linked to fat cell development. PPARd is most abundant in the nervous system where its function is not well understood. All PPARs are present in the cell nucleus and are normally inactive until specific chemicals (ligands) bind to them and activate them. When active, PPARs bind specific DNA sequences in the regulatory regions of target genes. Therefore, PPARs control gene expression in response to chemical messengers and as a consequence help determine the molecular composition of a cell and the kinds of activities that a cell is capable of participating in. The overarching objective of my research is to investigate the role of PPARs in the nervous system using a model system of cultured neuronal cells. To meet this objective, it is important to discover genes targetted by PPAR. Cytochrome P450 (CYP) monooxygenase gene expression is regulated by PPAR in the liver. The recently discovered cyp4X1 gene encodes a CYP that appears to be the most abundant CYP in the brain and a likely target for PPAR. In non-neuronal cultured cells, it has been reported that expression of cyp4X1 mRNA requires PPAR. It is therefore reasonable to hypothesize that cyp4X1 is one of several PPAR target genes in the brain that are required for proper response to PPAR activation. Utilizing neuronal cells isolated from neonatal rat brain, we aim to determine whether PPAR and CYP4X1 are expressed in the same neuronal cells, and whether activation of PPAR alters cyp4X1 gene expression. In addition, this cell culture system permits the investigation of a possible facilitatory role of PPAR/CYP4X1 in the metabolic interplay between neurons and glia, both in healthy cultures and in model cultures for neurodegeneration.
Philosophy - Neuroscience
I examine aspects of the neural basis of human consciousness. This principally involves the reinterpretation of functional MRI brain scanning data, data that are archived in various research centers and freely available. One main theme of this work is the pervasive human experience of time, which underlies all consciousness. Since temporality always accompanies awareness, it cannot easily be factored out as an experimental variable. Nonetheless the “flow” of time may be a parameter that varies in different tasks and contexts. Looking for evidence of this variable flow is ongoing. All of the analysis is carried on using the powerful computing environment, Matlab. Often students coordinate research under my direction with research opportunities at the Olin Neuropsychiatric Research Center at the Institute of Living. The course “Minds and Brains” (Phil 374 and its lab, Phil 371), provides a philosophical context for understanding functional brain imaging.
Psychology - Neuroscience
I. Studies in Vision Science. Students interested in vision research can work in my lab with animated computer displays designed to find out (1) the conditions for seeing surfaces in depth, (2) the conditions for seeing shapes as rigid or not, or (3) the conditions for combining patterns seen by two eyes into a single pattern in depth. This is like studying computer graphics, TV and movie cartoons, and neuroscience. II. Studies in Movement Science. Students interested in understanding the control of human movement can study (1) the coordination of rhythmic patterns, especially on the rowing ergometer, and (2) the perception of tools in sports. For example, what can an athlete feel about a lacrosse stick, hockey stick, baseball bat, squash racquet, or tennis racquet without looking? Tools used in sports extend the capacity of the body in ways that are poorly understood and leave room for fascinating research. You hold a tool with your hands, and feel only patterns of pressure on the hands, arms, and body, but you feel a unitary stick or racquet that has length beyond your hand. Psychology - Neuroscience
A major focus of my research is the neuromodulator adenosine. Adenosine is widely regarded as a neuroprotective molecule under pathological conditions such as stroke, but the ongoing role and regulation of adenosine is less well understood. By combining techniques such as imaging, electrophysiology, and behavior, we are trying to reveal more of the underlying cellular mechanisms which regulate adenosine and record their effects on synaptic transmission. Current projects are focused on novel ways to regulate the inhibitory potential of adenosine and develop novel strategies to help conditions such as epilepsy. Another aspect of my research is sensory processing in the rodent somatosensory cortex. Termed “barrel cortex,” the cortical area representing the large whiskers on the rodent snout is an unparalleled model system to study sensory processing, plasticity, and learning and memory. The whisker system is highly developed in rodents, and its development, anatomy and functional organization are well characterized. Specifically, the interaction between adenosine, sensory discrimination, and learning and memory is largely unexplored. This is extremely surprising in that caffeine is an adenosine receptor antagonist, and 80% of the population worldwide ingest this psychoactive substance on a regular basis. My stuStudents and I are developing a novel sensory discrimination task that demands a behavioral choice and is known to involve the barrel cortex. During initial training, rats whisk surfaces of different textures in a maze environment and learn to turn in the direction of the rougher texture. As the rats learn the task, the discrimination becomes more difficult by making the textures more similar. Training rats in this task allows us to explore the limits of discrimination within the whisker system, and ultimately can be used to determine the effects of genetic and pharmacological manipulations (knockout models or drugs) on sensory discrimination. Currently, most knockout animals are characterized behaviorally on a simple battery of tasks which neither engage cortical processing nor sophisticated sensory discrimination. Psychology - Neuroscience
My research primarily involves examining behavioral methods to facilitate changes in human brain structure following damage to the brain. It has been demonstrated in animal studies that enriched environments lead to greater brain complexity. It has also been well documented that repeating particular tasks (such as simple motor movements) causes increases in the number of brain cells involved in coordinating that task. Finally, we know that without certain experiences (like having cataracts so that you cannot see) there is a lack of development of the usual brain systems involved in that function. Given these findings in rats, cats, and monkeys, it is worthwhile to ask whether the right experiences might similarly effect increased brain specialization in humans. Early studies using positron emission tomography suggest that indeed, repetitive practice does cause a greater area of the brain to be used for the function that is being practiced. Our research is an attempt to determine which types of practice are most effective and whether they can be effectively used to help people who have had brain damage. People with brain injury experience several types of cognitive deficits. Often they have trouble paying attention. One particular function that is often lost is memory. This is a complex function that involves large systems in the brain. As such, virtually no treatments for memory loss have been effective. More specifically, the type of memory that people with brain damage find most troubling is prospective memory. This is the ability to remember to do things in the future (for example, remember to buy milk at the store on your way home). We are currently working on creating measures that more effectively test prospective memory. We have developed a set of exercises that seem to be effective at improving attention skills and a set of exercises that improve prospective memory in people with brain damage. We continue to work at refining these tasks. In addition, we are very interested in how success in this area of research is defined. It is not enough that the person get better in the lab. So we also look at whether they seem better in their daily lives. Moreover, we interested in whether these effects truly represent change in brain organization. To measure change in brain organization we use electrophysiological methods. We measure the electrical activity in the brain both before and after treatment. The specific activity we measure most often involves event-related potentials. These are characteristic waveforms that occur after a particular event takes place. For example, 100 ms after you hear a tone you generate an electrical potential that reflects the working of the auditory system. We look at later potentials thought to reflect the working of attention and memory. Specifically we measure the novel P300 (a positive waveform that occurs at 300 ms) and the contingent negative variation. Both are generated in the frontal lobes of the brain. Biology - Neuroscience
As laboratory coordinator my main area of interest currently is developing lab modules for use in several neuroscience courses here at Trinity. My goal is to provide students with artificial and animal models, computer software, and cognitive exercises that demonstrate the concepts discussed in neuroscience lecture courses. These laboratory exercises span the range from anatomy to behavior, electrophysiology, chemistry, psychology, and cognitive science. I am very interested in allowing students to experiment with novel animals, models, or apparatus that will foster the skills necessary to promote the pursuit of original thesis research or post-graduate study. In addition to my main focus on developing new neuroscience labs I am currently involved in two research projects. The first is the continuation of work with Dr. Susan Masino in the Psychology, using electrophysiology and immunoflourescence microscopy to explore the role of minute changes in temperature and pH in the regulation of the neuroprotective compound Adenosine in the mammalian hippocampus. Using in vitro techniques to vary pH and temperature as well as in vivo, dietary techniques for altering tissue pH we are finding that pH and temperature both alter how adenosine is produced in the brain, and that the relationship is not linear, but is curvilinear and is altered by several contributing factors. My second area of research interest is in insect morphology and sensory nerve signaling. I am currently working with Dr. Smedley of the Biology Department to describe the variation in the morphological structures that caterpillars use to produce defensive chemicals. Professor Christoph GeissResearch Students are currently conducting research on several projects, using the equipment of the rock-magnetism laboratory and the facilities of the Environmental Sciences Program. Some of the projects are listed below:
For more information, please visit Professor Geiss' website: http://www.trincoll.edu/~cgeiss/research.htm
We will undertake a theoretical and computational investigation, within the framework of Newtonian mechanics, of the motion of a pair of particles when one of them has negative mass. As far as is known, there are no objects having negative mass. Qualitative considerations suggest that any particles of negative mass would escape from any finite region of space, but I have neither seen nor done a careful calculation to support such a claim. We will consider two cases: a) A small negative mass interacting with a much larger (ordinary) positive mass, and b) a negative mass interacting with a positive mass of comparable magnitude. The second case is quite tricky.
Interdisciplinary Science Center
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