Colorado State University

Gregory Amberg, PhD

Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences

Investigation of calcium channel function in arterial smooth muscle, pituitary gonadotropes, and dopaminergic neurons using a combination of patch-clamp electrophysiology, molecular biology and imaging techniques such as total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy.
Gregory.Amberg@colostate.edu

• Cellular and Molecular

Chuck Anderson, PhD

Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences

Deep machine learning applied to biomedical images and signals; electroencephalography (EEG) pattern analysis for brain-computer interfaces, reinforcement learning.
Anderson@cs.colostate.edu

• Computational

Aga Burzynska, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Human Development and Family Studies

Age-related changes in brain structure and function; brain-behavior relationships; cognitive and neural plasticity; lifestyle interventions to improve brain health and cognitive abilities; effects of physical activity and fitness on the aging brain and mind, long-term effects of motor training on the brain (professional dancers and athletes).
Agaburza@colostate.edu

• Cognitive and Behavioral

Soham Chanda, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Small amount of text describing research areas. You should be able to copy/paste text here. Including the email address.
Soham.Chanda@colostate.edu

• Cellular and Molecular,
• Developmental,
• Neurogeneration and Disease

Anne Cleary, PhD

Professor, Department of Psychology

Human memory processes, especially those for human recognition memory. Studied primarily through behavioral methods, but also through measurement of brain electrophysiology and functional neuroimaging.
Anne.Cleary@colostate.edu

• Cognitive and Behavioral

Bradley Conner, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Psychology

Genetic predictors of personality and engagement in health risk behaviors, including substance use disorders. Structural and functional neuroimaging of impulsivity and sensation seeking.
Brad.Conner@colostate.edu

• Cognitive and Behavioral

Patricia Davies, PhD

Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy

Examination of neurophysiological mechanisms that underlie cognitive and motor behaviors in children with and without disabilities using electroencephalography (EEG) and event-related potentials (ERPs). Application of brain computer interfaces for persons who have severe motor disabilities.
Patricia.Davies@colostate.edu

• Cognitive and Behavioral,
• Developmental

Bruce Draper, PhD

Professor, Department of Computer Science

Computer vision; image understanding; computational models of human vision.
Bruce.Draper@colostate.edu

• Computational

Brett Fling, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Health and Exercise Science

A range of neuroimaging techniques including functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion tensor imaging and transcranial magnetic stimulation are used to assess the brain’s sensorimotor system. These approaches are integrated with experimental paradigms assessing movement biomechanics to provide a comprehensive view of the neural control of movement. A specific emphasis is place on individuals with sensorimotor dysfunction such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and mild traumatic brain injury.
Brett.Fling@colostate.edu

• Cognitive and Behavioral,
• Neurodegeneration and Disease

Deborah Garrity, PhD

Professor, Department of Biology

The molecular and genetic basis of heart development in zebrafish. Manipulating biomechanical forces that impact embryonic cardiac development. Approaches include forward and reverse genetics, transgenic fish, optical tool development, molecular cloning and RNA expression profiling.
Deborah.Garrity@colostate.edu

• Developmental

Frederick Hoerndli, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences

Investigation of the regulation of Glutamate receptor transport in synaptic function, plasticity and ageing in the model organism C. elegans. We use a combination of molecular biology, genetics, in vivo spinning disk confocal microscopy, microfluidics and behavior analysis to gain mechanistic insights into regulatory mechanisms at the interface of molecular transport and synaptic function.
Frederic.Hoerndli@colostate.edu

• Cellular and Molecular,
• Neurodegeneration and Disease

Kim Hoke, PhD

Professor, Department of Biology

Neural systems underlying social behaviors; evolution of behavior; contributions of neuromodulation to context dependence of behaviors; neuroendocrinology; evolution of ear structures and hearing.
Kim.Hoke@colostate.edu

• Circuits and Systems,
• Developmental

Seonil Kim, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences

Synapse structure and function in neurons. The signaling pathways and receptor trafficking mechanisms that control synaptic transmission and synapse strength. Genetically modified mice to study cognitive function and diseases. cell biology, calcium imaging, biochemistry, and behavioral analysis, as well as electrophysiology to deduce molecular mechanisms that control synapses.
Seonil.Kim@colostate.edu

• Cellular and Molecular,
• Neurodegeneration and Disease

Tom LaRocca, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Health and Exercise Science & Cell and Molecular Biology

Dr. LaRocca’s research focuses on the molecular biology of brain aging and diseases like ALS and Alzheimer’s.  Because the biological causes of aging and disease overlap significantly, focusing on common mechanisms is the LaRocca lab’s approach for finding ways to increase “healthspan” (the period of life during which we are healthy and productive) and prevent disease.  The lab uses a combination of techniques—bioinformatics, cell culture, and studies in C. elegans, mice and humans.

Tom.Larocca@colostate.edu

Research Areas: Circuits and Systems, Neurodegeneration and Disease

Neha Lodha, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Health and Exercise Science & Biomedical Engineering

Neuromuscular mechanisms of impaired motor control in healthy (young and older adults) and diseased populations (stroke and transient ischemic attack). Functional consequences of impaired motor control during activities of daily living such as bimanual gripping, driving, and over-ground walking. Developing rehabilitation protocols for improving motor function.
Neha.Lodha@colostate.edu

• Circuits and Systems,
• Neurodegeneration and Disease

Emily Merz, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology

Socioeconomic inequality leads to differences in children’s experiences that impact their growth and development. In the LEARN lab, we study how these experiences may impact the developing brain to better understand ways to support families and communities and reduce the effects of disadvantage. We investigate stress as a mechanism through which socioeconomic disadvantage may impact the developing brain and in turn children’s emotional and cognitive outcomes. Research in the lab also focuses on the factors in children’s lives that promote resilience and testing strategies intended to reduce socioeconomic disparities in children’s health and development.
Emily.Merz@colostate.edu

• Cognitive and Behavioral,
• Developmental

Brent Myers, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences

Integrative neuroscience of stress, including behavioral neuroscience, cardiovascular and endocrine physiology, and the neurocircuit basis of stress effects on health. Particularly focused on the corticolimbic mechanisms linking depression and cardiovascular disease. Studies combine optogenetics, fiber photometry, and genetic-based circuit mapping to determine the neural underpinnings of chronic stress-mediated changes in social and motivational behavior assays, ECG radiotelemetry, and plasma hormone analyses.
Brent.Myers@colostate.edu

• Circuits and Systems

Donald Mykles, PhD

Professor, Department of Biology

Hormonal regulation of molting, limb regeneration, and skeletal muscle atrophy in decapod crustaceans. Neuropeptide and steroid control of cyclic nucleotide-, nitric oxide-, mTOR-, and TGFbeta-dependent signaling pathways are studied.
Donald.Mykles@colostate.edu

• Circuits and Systems,
• Developmental

Ashok Prassad, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering

Quantitative and predictive models for molecular and cellular biology by using tools and methods from the engineering and physical sciences. We study biophysics of cell shape especially in cancer, mechanical properties of cells, synthetic biology, “big data” methods for cancer diagnosis and therapy, bacterial metabolism and mathematical and computational analysis of intracellular networks. We are also interested in how single cells including neurons do information processing and take decisions.
ashokp@engr.colostate.edu

• Computational

Noreen Reist, PhD

Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences
Director of MCIN

Molecular and genetic techniques are used in conjunction with electrophysiology and ultrastructural analysis to determine the molecular mechanisms mediating neurotransmitter release at a living synapse. Studies applied to determine disease etiology in a familial myasthenic syndrome and a spontaneous human mutation resulting in profound cognitive impairment.
Noreen.Reist@colostate.edu

• Cellular and Molecular

Donald Rojas, PhD

Professor, Department of Psychology

Structural and functional neuroimaging techniques are used to examine sensory and motor processing in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and childhood onset schizophrenia.
Don.Rojas@colostate.edu

• Cognitive and Behavioral,
• Developmental

Carol Seger, PhD

Professor, Department of Psychology

Cognitive neuroscience of human learning, memory, and executive function using functional and anatomical neuroimaging techniques. Our overarching goal is to characterize how distributed networks across the brain support and represent learning and use of new skills, habits, and concepts. We also study the perceptual and cognitive functions of the basal ganglia and corticostriatal networks in healthy adults and those with basal ganglia disorders.
Carol.Seger@colostate.edu

• Cognitive and Behavioral

Jaclyn Stephens, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy

Evaluates adolescents and young adults with sports-related concussion (SRC) and more severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI) using behavioral measures and neuroimaging techniques, like electroencephalography (EEG), functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Overarching goal of improving evaluation of SRC and TBI, so individuals can return to meaningful occupations without risk of new, secondary injuries like repeat concussions.
Jaclyn.Stephens@colostate.edu

• Neurodegeneration and Disease

Michael Tamkun, PhD

Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences

Molecular and cell biology of voltage-gated Na+ and K+ channels in nerve and muscle. Ion channel biology is studied using a variety of molecular, biochemical and cellular techniques, including voltage-clamp, live cell imaging and single molecule tracking.
Michael.Tamkun@colostate.edu

• Cellular and Molecular

Glenn Telling, PhD

Professor, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology

While we are particularly recognized for our work on transgenic mouse modeling of prion diseases, our group is one of only a handful with the resources and expertise for studying prion diseases using whole animal, transgenic, cell biological, biochemical, and molecular genetic approaches. This places us in a unique position to investigate the molecular events underlying prion propagation, species barriers and strains, which remain the overarching goals of my research program.
Glenn.Telling@colostate.edu

• Cellular and Molecular,
• Neurodegeneration and Disease

Michael Thomas, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology

Our laboratory is concerned with interpretive and statistical challenges relevant to neuropsychological research and practice. We rely on methods and tools from psychometric theory, cognitive psychology, and neuroscience to conduct our research. Recent work seeks to develop computerized adaptive tests to improve the collection and interpretation of cognitive and brain imaging data. Other studies are aimed at better understanding the mediating processes involved in the development, maintenance, and remediation of cognitive dysfunction. A wide range of populations are studied, but we have a particular interest in schizophrenia, aging, and dementia.
Michael.L.Thomas@colostate.edu

• Cognitive and Behavioral

Ronald Tjalkens, PhD

Professor, Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences

Research projects focus on the role of glial cells in neurodegeneration, neuroinflammatory signaling in Parkinson’s disease, astrocyte biology and calcium signaling, and mitochondrial dysfunction related to oxidative stress. Projects emphasize multi-dimensional fluorescence imaging, molecular approaches to modulate gene expression in neural cells, and the use of transgenic models.
Ron.Tjalkens@ColoState.edu

• Circuits and Systems,
• Neurodegeneration and Disease

Susan Tsunoda, PhD

Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences

We use Drosophila as a model to study: how voltage-gated K+ channels are trafficked/targeted, how their biophysical properties are regulated, how expression and function of channels are regulated by activity, and the role K+ channels play in excitability and synaptic function. We combine electrophysiology, imaging, genetics, and molecular and cell biological techniques.
Susan.Tsunoda@ColoState.edu

• Cellular and Molecular,
• Neurodegeneration and Disease

Jozsef Vigh, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences

We focus on synaptic mechanisms underlying retinal visual information processing and light-driven behavior in vertebrates. Approaches based on patch clamp electrophysiology, in combination with pharmacological techniques and behavioral studies.
Jozsef.Vigh@ColoState.edu

• Cellular and Molecular,
• Sensation and Perception

Mark Zabel, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology

Prion immunology, biochemistry and ecology.
Mark.Zabel@ColoState.edu

• Cellular and Molecular,
• Neurodegeneration and Disease

John Walrond, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences

Structure and Function of central and peripheral nicotinic cholinergic synapses.
John.Walrond@ColoState.edu

• Cellular and Molecular,
• Circuits and Systems

Ray Whalen, DVM

Department of Biomedical Sciences

Interactive multimedia educational programs.
Ray.Whalen@ColoState.edu

Wen Zhou, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Statistics

High dimensional inference, statistical machine learning, multivariate time series, graphical and network models, neural network, genomics and connectomics.
riczw@stat.colostate.edu

• Computational

James Bamburg, PhD

Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Role of the cytoskeleton and associated proteins in neurodegenerative disorders, particularly the formation of cofilin-actin rods. Application of mouse genetics, neuronal and brain slice culture, biochemical, molecular biological, computer-enhanced microscopy & ultrastructural methods
James.Bamburg@colostate.edu

• Cellular and Molecular,
• Neurodegeneration and Disease

Barbara Bernstein, PhD

Senior Research Scientist, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

The neuronal cytoskeleton; regulation and role of actin microfilaments in growth, synaptic transmission, and cell survival. Protein biochemistry, tissue culture, and a variety of optical imaging techniques are used.
bwb@colostate.edu

• Cellular and Molecular

Philip Quirk, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences

Regulation and function of ligand-gated ion channels.
Philip.Quirk@colostate.edu

• Cellular and Molecular

Leslie Stone-Roy, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences

Sensory substitution and sensory perception in response to electrotactile stimulation in collaboration with the Department of Mechanical Engineering
Leslie.Stone-Roy@colostate.edu

• Computational,
• Sensation and Perception