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Neuroscience
UI graduate faculty
research projects in Neuroscience currently available to SROP scholars.
This list does not represent all faculty interested in being
mentors. Please check the
Neuroscience faculty website for additional research interests.
CNS Myelination and Multiple Sclerosis
| Principal Investigator |
Minnetta V. Gardinier, Associate Professor Department(s): Pharmacology Interdisciplinary Program(s): Neuroscience, Molecular Biology College of Medicine |
| Research Description | Our research program focuses on studies of myelin membrane proteins and gaining a better understanding of how they are properly trafficked and targeted within oligodendrocytes to effect myelination of CNS neurons. Clinical relevance: multiple sclerosis, developmental neurobiology. |
| Undergraduate Role | Opportunity to work with graduate and postdoctoral researchers in areas of cell biology, molecular biology, and/or biochemistry; you will have your own research project in collaboration with these mentors. |
| Minimum Qualifications | Completion of sophomore year in college towards a Bachelor's degree. |
| Contact Information |
(Telephone) 319-335-6735 (Email address) m-gardinier@uiowa.edu University website for Professor Minnetta V. Gardinier |
Determining the Function of Cyclins G1 and G2 in Cell Cycle Control and Differentiation and the Consequences of their Dysregulation in Cancer Cells
| Principal Investigator |
Mary C. Horne, Assistant Professor Department(s): Pharmacology Interdisciplinary Program(s): Neuroscience, Molecular Biology, Biosciences Program College of Medicine |
| Assistants | Aruni Arachchige S. Don, Colleen Cowan |
| Research Description | My lab uses a combination of cell and molecular biology and protein biochemistry to study the role of cyclin G family members during cellular proliferation and differentiation in various model systems. these studies encompass several projects relevant to the fields of immunology, developmental neuroscience and cancer cell biology. Specifically we are interested in the function and mechanisms of action of cyclin G1 and G2 regulated complexes in: 1) Responses to B cell receptor signaling and tolerance induction in developing lymphocytes, 2) p53 tumor-suppressor pathway signaling, 3) Cell cycle arrest and differentiation of neurons in the developing cerebellum, 4) Cellular responses to environmental stress signals (hypoxia and oxidative stress), 5) Regulation of centrosomes and microtubules during cell division in breast and prostate cancer cells. |
| Undergraduate Role | Opportunity to work alongside graduate student and staff research assistant researchers as well as the PI in areas of biochemistry and cell and molecular biology. Summer students will have their own research project that fits with our research goals that can be carried out in a collaboration with the mentors. |
| Minimum Qualifications | Completion of sophomore year in college towards a Bachelor's degree in the sciences relevant to biomedical studies. |
| Contact Information |
(Telephone) 319-335-8267 (Email address) mary-horne@uiowa.edu University website for Professor Mary Horne |
The Blood Supply of the Human Insula
| Principal Investigator |
Sergio Paradiso, Assoicate Professor Department(s): Neuroscience College of Medicine Interdisciplinary Program: Department of Psychiatry |
| Research Description | This study examines the relationship between proposed functional subdivisions of the insula and it's vasculature. |
| Undergraduate Role | Dissecting human brain, injecting dyes, documentation of effects through photographs, preparation of poster. |
| Minimum Qualificatins | None listed |
| Contact Information |
384-9248 sergio-paradiso@uiowa.edu Professor Sergio Paradiso |
Protein Phosphatase 2A in Brain Function
| Principal Investigator |
Stefan Strack , Associate Professor Department(s): Pharmacology Neuroscience, Molecular Biology and College of Medicine |
| Research Description | Investigate mechanisms of signal transduction in the nervous system, with regards to brain development, learning and memory. |
| Undergraduate Role | Carry out molecular biology and cell biology experiments. Opportunity to work on independent project with disease relevance. |
| Minimum Qualifications | Junior/Senior, Biology/Biochemistry or similar major. |
| Contact Information |
(Telephone) 319-384-4439 (Email address) stefan-strack@uiowa.edu University website for Professor Stefan Strack |
Neuroanatomical Substrates of Complex Behavior
| Principal Investigator |
Daniel Tranel, Professor Department(s): Neurology Interdisciplinary Program(s): Neuroscience College of Medicine |
| Research Description | To understand how brain structures subserve higher cognitive functions and emotions in humans. |
| Undergraduate Role | Students are involved in planning experiments, preparing stimuli for experiments, collecting data, and analyzing results. Students may be responsible for running subjects in experiments. Some subjects are likely to be brain-damaged neurological patients who are being studied with specially designed cognitive experiments. Students may also become involved in preparing research results for presentation at meetings and in research papers. |
| Minimum Qualifications | Student should have at least 3.5 GPA and have completed some psychology and biology courses. Completed sophomore year of college. Good interpersonal skills. |
| Contact Information |
(Telephone) 319-384-6050 (Email address) daniel-tranel@uiowa.edu University website for Professor Daniel Tranel |