Sieburth, Derek
Associate Professor of Physiology & Neuroscience
Our lab is interested in understanding how neuronal signal transduction pathways regulate neurotransmitter secretion and how this impacts the function of underlying neuronal circuits that control behavioral output.
Watts, Alan
Professor of Biological Sciences
My work focuses on understanding how the brain contributes to the development, manifestation, and complications of diabetes and obesity, primarily on how this happens at the neural network level. In particular, I am interested in how interoceptive and exteroceptive signals interact with the brain to control endocrine and behavioral responses to energy deficits. Currently I am using neuroinformatic methods to explore how the rat brain connectome can reveal the organization of the control networks that influence the behavioral, endocrine, and autonomic motor events associated with metabolic physiology and its dysfunction.
Zhao, Zhen
Assistant Professor of Physiology & Neuroscience
I received my Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Southern California (USC) in 2009, continued my journey at USC as a postdoctoral fellow in 2010, and was promoted to tenure-track assistant professor at in 2017. My scientific training and research expertise covers neurosciences and immunology, as I was mentored by several renowned mentors in these fields, particularly Dr Berislav Zlokovic on blood-brain barrier and neurodegenerative diseases. Currently, my main research objective is to explore the genetic, molecular and cellular mechanisms of neurodegeneration, understand the crosstalk between the cell types of the brain and explore new approaches to restore the functional crosstalk for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
