Potential Supervisors & Labs

Berkeley

Supervisor	Research Overview	H-I	Contacted
Yang Dan	Circuits which control sleep (NREM vs REM). Function of prefrontal cortex on sleep. Low level neuro using optogenetics (mice), optrode recording (cell), calcium imaging. [^1]	`64`	`11/16/23`
Ming Hsu	Neural representations of decision-making, stereotypes, and beliefs. Applied to economics. Mid level using imaging + computational modeling. [^2]	`31`	`11/17/23`
Matthew Walker	Role of sleep in health and disease. Consequences of sleep disturbances on social behaviors, emotion, ß-amyloid, glucose, etc. Mid level using imaging + computational modeling. [^3]	`86`	`11/17/23`

Stanford

Supervisor	Research Overview	H-I	Contacted
Robert Malenka	Distinct forms of synaptic plasticity. Circuits involved in learning and memory. Empathy. Low level with intracellular recordings (rats). [^4]	`163`	`11/18/23`
H Heller	Everything related to sleep like circadian rhythms, body temp, exercise, Down syndrome, etc. Memory suppression. [^5]	`81`	`11/17/23`
Dan Yamins	How brain solves problems to build better AI algorithms. Deep learning frameworks for neuro. [^6]	`36`	`11/18/23`

Oxford

Supervisor	Research Overview	H-I	Contacted
Hannah Smithson	Perception of color. High and low level with in vivo imaging of retina and perception of material properties. [^7]	`20`	`11/16/23`
Aarti Jagannath	Circadian rhythms (CR). Interaction of sleep and CRs and the impact of sleep on CR. Low to mid level neuro. [^8]	`20`	`11/17/23`
Vladislav Vyazovskiy	What is sleep and why. Theory of sleep originating from local neural networks vs as a state of the whole body. Potentially low level because of intracellular recordings but unclear. [^9]	`44`	`11/18/23`

Edinburgh

Supervisor	Research Overview	H-I	Contacted
Gülşen Sürmeli	Representations for memories and storage. Hippocampus and neocortex specifically. Methods TBR. [^10]	`8`	`TBD`
Oliver Hardt	Decay of memory and what happens when we forget. [^11]	`24`	`TBD`
Owen Dando	Builds statistical tools and web apps for neuro labs. [^12]	`20`	`TBD`

[^1]: I LOVE that she's studying sleep and the mechanisms behind NREM vs REM. She consistently puts out papers and in major journals. My only concern is that the methods are too low level. Side note: a recent paper (diff lab) showed that ensembles in the NAc control both NREM and pain. (1) How do multiple encodings work in ensembles? (2) If pain + NREM share an ensemble, is there a functional similarity or evolutionary reason (e.g., Broca's)? [^2]: I'm drawn to interdisciplinary labs and this fits the bill. I love using our understanding of neuroscience, such as how we make decisions, and applying them to a completely different field. Lab has methods (imaging + computational modeling) that fit my background well. [^3]: Famous sleep researcher and he makes sleep more accessible to the public. Instead of focusing on just how sleep works, he looks at the impact it has on emotional regulation, social behavior, and health. I prefer interdisciplinary labs so this is a fit. Also, the methods are more mid/high which is better for me. (I do disagree with points in his book "Why do we sleep?" though.) [^4]: I'm interested in the different types of synaptic plasticity and its role in memory/learning. My concern would be that the methods are too low level with cellular electrophysiological recordings. I'm super curious about the research we could do on understanding how empathy works. His recent paper showed how ACC → NAc mediate the social transfer of pain. [^5]: I love that he's a sleep researcher. His main focus seems to be on Down syndrome right now which isn't an interest of mine. I'd want to focus on the function of sleep and transition between arousal states. He also did some research on how fear memories are suppressed and I think the whole field of memory and how memories are modified is exciting. Not too sure about the methods of his lab but I have seen sensors and imaging. [^6]: His lab both explores how the brain makes decisions to improve algorithms BUT also applies deep learning to neuroscience. I love that it's bidirectional and extremely interdisciplinary. I previously worked on building classifier models for an electronic nose using the olfactory circuit for a fruit fly so I have the background for this. [^7]: Bit of a random lab given my interests but I love color perception! I've enjoyed studying the effect of top-down control on the spectrum of colors we can see. Also, I participated in VS Ramachandran's study on the effects of language on the colors people with synesthesia place on words. Her lab works across physiologists, computer scientists, etc. which is a great fit for me. [^8]: I'm usually more interested in sleep than CRs but I know someone working in her lab who respects her a lot as a supervisor and enjoys the researcher. There's some cool applications of her CR research in technology which is a great fit for my background. She's extremely passionate about D&I which I care about immensely. [^9]: I know someone who worked in his lab for one rotation and the research was cool but it might not be a mentorship-style fit. I like that he always brings his research back to fundamental questions and accessible writings. He just released a paper on sleep spindles and I was going to proposal work in that area. [^10]: I love that she focuses on brain-wide phenomenon rather than a little piece in isolation. The lab is looking at relationships between areas (very systems neuro) which is also my thing. Memory in general is super cool. [^11]: I really liked their write-up on what the lab does (accessible research writing). Interesting to focus not on memory formation or storage but the decay. Interesting research on telling yourself not to remember something and how that impacts the ability to store info. [^12]: Another unique lab in that they build the tools for neuro labs. Opportunity to use my background. I've played a bit with building web apps to run experiments before.

ntrappe / you-are-here