Recent Dissertations
The principle focus of the curriculum is the doctoral dissertations. After selection of a dissertation advisor and completion of the Preliminary Examination, a Dissertation Advisory Committee is set up to advise and support the student. This committee meets with the student every 9 months until the dissertation is written. The dissertation is then defended and submitted to the University registrar in fulfillment of the Ph.D. degree requirements. The dissertation may substantially draw on research publications, but it must conform to the guidelines in The Form of the Doctoral Dissertation. Degrees are awarded in June, November, and March.
Peri Kurshan
The Role of Alpha2delta-3 in Calcium-Channel Localization, Synaptic Function and Bouton Formation
Thomas Schwarz, advisor
Eiman Azim
Molecular Controls Over Neocortical Neuronal Diversity and Oligodendrocyte Development.
Jeff Macklis, advisor
Allison Terra Knoll
Role of Kappa Opioid Receptors in Fear and Anxiety-like Behavior in Rats.
William Carlezon, advisor.
Stephanie Lunn Courchesne
Spatial Aspects of Neuronal Survival Signaling in Sensory Neurons.
Rosalind Segal, advisor.
Rachel Bortnick
Genetic Dissection of the Dscam Pathway.
Dietmar Schmucker, advisor.
Joshua Jacob Buchman
Roles of centrosome proteins associated with primary microcephaly in mammalian corticogenesis.
Li-Huei Tsai, advisor.
James Fitzhugh Sturgill
Activity-dependent Regulation of Synapse Structure and Function: Roles of PSD-95 and the Metabolic Sensor, AMPK.
Bernardo Sabatini, advisor.
Geoffrey Richard Tanner
K(ATP) Channels, Metabolism, and Neuronal Excitability.
Gary Yellen, advisor.
Nathan Gouwens
Processing of Neural Signals in the Drosophila Olfactory System.
Rachel Wilson, advisor.
John Nicholas Hunter
Spatial Integration of Motion Signals in Macaque MT.
Richard Born, advisor.
Camilo Libedinsky
Neuronal Mechanisms of Visual Perception Role of Early Visual and Prefrontal Cortical Areas in Conscious Awareness.
Margaret Livingstone, advisor.
Pavan Ramdya
Direction selectivity in the larval zebrafish optic tectum.
Florian Engert, advisor.
Irit Rappley
Selective Effects of Alpha-Synuclein on Membrane Phospholipids and Mitochondrial Function.
Dennis Selkoe, advisor.
Max Alexander Tischfield
Human eye movement disorders help identify molecular and genetic etiologies of novel neurological syndromes.
Elizabeth Engle, advisor.
Timothy James Mosca
Nuclear Import and Synapse to Nucleus Signalling at the Drosophila Neuromuscular Junction.
Thomas Schwarz, advisor.
Misao Higashi Kovtun
Characterization of an Importin beta11 Mutant at the Drosophila neuromuscular Junction.
Thomas Schwarz, advisor.