Summary

PhD Candidate in Neuroscience, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University

Christopher Rees’s research interests include Neuroscience, Bioinformatics, and Information Science.

Information

LinkedIn page  Research Gate page

Education

George Mason University Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Neuroscience and Bioinformatics 2009 – 2016 The George Washington University Master of Science (M.S.), Bioinformatics 2009 – 2011 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Computer and Electrical Engineering 2000 – 2005

Publications

Name-calling in the hippocampus (and beyond): coming to terms with neuron types and properties D. J. Hamilton · D. W. Wheeler · C. M. White · […] · G. A. Ascoli |Jun 2016

Abstract Widely spread naming inconsistencies in neuroscience pose a vexing obstacle to effective communication within and across areas of expertise. This problem is particularly acute when identifying neuron types and their properties. Hippocampome.org is a web-accessible neuroinformatics resource that organizes existing data about essential properties of all known neuron types in the rodent hippocampal formation. Hippocampome.org links evidence supporting the assignment of a property to a type with direct pointers to quotes and figures. Mining this knowledge from peer-reviewed reports reveals the troubling extent of terminological ambiguity and undefined terms. Examples span simple cases of using multiple synonyms and acronyms for the same molecular biomarkers (or other property) to ...

Summary

Second year Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience graduate student President, Cure Mental Illness Club at GMU

Bill Kochen research is focused on the role of metals in Tauopathies and Traumatic Brain Injuries.

Information

Webpage:  psychology.gmu.edu/people/wkochen   CMI Club

Email: wkochen@gmu.edu Phone: Office Hours: By appointment Address: David King Hall 2024 Fairfax, Va. 22030

About

Bill Kochen is a second year Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience graduate student in Dr. Flinn’s lab researching the role of biometals in neurological disorders. Bills undergraduate research was in comparative neuroanatomy in the lab of Dr. Alice Powers at Stony Brook University. Since coming to mason, his research has moved from neuroanatomy to the role of biometals in tauopathies (a protein dysfunction implicated in Alzheimer’s Disease, Picks Disease and Parkinsons Disease). A study finishing this summer looks at the role of elevated zinc in the drinking water of mice expressing human tau dysfunction in their brain and the effects of this Zinc on the behavior and pathology of these mice.

The Flinn Lab recently received a Controlled Cortical Impact device and research is expected to start this summer looking at the role of social behavior in the process of recovery from Traumatic Brain Injuries. Other projects starting this summer involve Zinc supplementation in wild type mice and future research will examine the role of zinc supplementation/chelation ...

Information

LinkedIn page  Research Gate page   PBNJ Lab

Email: dmchail@gmu.edu

Summary

Doctoral student, GMU Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience

My research interests include the role of trace metals in Alzheimer’s disease pathology, specifically the homeostasis of dietary copper and zinc levels. Currently, Katelyn is investigating the role of copper/zinc homeostasis on biomarkers of neuroinflammation and circadian rhythms in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease working with Dr. Jane Flinn.

Information

Mason webpage   LinkedIn   ResearchGate

Email:  Address: George Mason University Psychology Department 4400 University Blvd Fairfax, VA 22030

Biosketch

Education

She received her B.S. degree from George Mason University in Spring 2012 and began her graduate career at GMU in Fall 2012.

Work Experience

Graduate Student Instructor George Mason University September 2012 – Present (3 years 9 months)

Research Assistant Krasnow Institute of Higher Education February 2011 – Present (5 years 4 months)

Medical Receptionist Internal Medicine and Allergy Associates June 2011 – July 2014 (3 years 2 months)

Research

Research Interests in role of metals in Alzheimer’s disease pathology, biomarkers of neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease, and circadian rhythm disturbance in Alzheimer’s disease.

Posters

Nesting E4/WT Study

Introduction

Nest building by mice is an innate behavior that provides the animal with shelter and temperature regulation. Because nest building is instinctive for mice, it is often used to assess animal welfare. The ability of mice to build nests is influenced by several factors including temperature ...

Summary

Fourth year Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience graduate student President, Students in Neuroscience

Caroline Neely research focuses on cognition and human behavior in Dr. Jane Flinn’s Alzheimer’s disease and learning impairment laboratory.

Information

Webpage:  psychology.gmu.edu/people/cneely3   LinkedIn page

Email: cneely3@gmu.edu Phone:  703.993.5455 Office Hours: Mondays 10:30 – 11:30 AM; appointment preferred Address:  David King Hall 2024 Fairfax, Va. 22030

About

Since joining the Mason community, Caroline has worked in the field of animal behavior in order to understand the biological and cellular underpinnings of maladaptive associative learning. Currently, her work focuses on fear conditioning and extinction, two forms of associative learning that can be impaired in both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Caroline serves as a mentor for undergraduate students enrolled in NEUR 395/405. As a former adjunct faculty member of GMU’s Department of Criminology, Law, and Society, she conducted NIDA-sponsored research that assessed the relationship among crime, commercial/residential density, and community health in Baltimore, MD. Caroline also served as an affiliate of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine Department of Public Health Sciences.

Education

BA Psychology, Neuroscience, Spanish – Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 2013

MA Psychology/Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience – George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 2015

Current Research

Traumatic brain injury; fear conditioning and extinction; NMDAR subunit expression; animal models of PTSD; hippocampus, basolateral amygdaloid complex, ...

Summary

Student, Neuroethics concentration, George Mason University Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies

My goal upon entering the Neuroethics MAIS program is to acquire essential knowledge and practical experience so that I can effectively contribute to the collective discussion aiming to accurately predict, discern, and employ ethical policies ensuring responsible scientific practice and healthcare for the betterment of society as whole.

Biosketch

Ms Greer recently completed my B.S. in Neuroscience and currently work at the Krasnow Institute for Advanced Studies through the OSCAR Students as Scholars Program.  I do experiments  utilizing techniques in molecular neurobiology, electrophysiology, and molecular cloning;  I also perform data analysis for several projects in the Physiological and Behavioral Neuroscience in Juveniles (PBNJ) Lab with Dr. Ted Dumas.  My undergraduate experience at Mason has enlightened me to many fascinating developments in cutting-edge neuroscience research and their implications for society.  My goal upon entering the Neuroethics MAIS program is to acquire essential knowledge and practical experience so that I can effectively contribute to the collective discussion aiming to accurately predict, discern, and employ ethical policies ensuring responsible scientific practice and healthcare for the betterment of society as whole.  I realize the importance of integrating ethics into neuroscience research at all phases of the scientific process, implementing ...

Information

LinkedIn page

Email: k.moradi@gmail.com

Biosketch

Dr. Moradi is a graduate of medicine and a PhD student in neuroscience. I have been a member of different gifted and talented programs that include: “The National Organization for Development of Exceptional Talents (NODET)”, “Iranian Young Scholars’ Club”, “The Gifted and Talented Program office” of Zanjan University of Medical Sciences and “The National Foundation of Elites”, respectively. Currently, I am a PhD student and research assistant at “Krasnow Institute for Advanced Studies” at George Mason University.

Education

George Mason University Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Neuroscience 2014 – 2018 Zanjan University of Medical Sciences Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), General Practitioner, B 2001 – 2009 Biochemistry, Pharmacology Physiology, Immunology, Human Anatomy, Histology, Pathology, Bacteriology, Virology, Parasitology, Entomology, Mycology, Epidemiology, Infectious disease, Surgery, Orthopedics Neurosurgery, Neurology, Psychology, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology, Dermatology, Medical Physics, Radiology ECG interpretation, Adult and Infant CPR, ABG, wound closure Evidence-based Medicine, Hospitals, and Healthcare

Activities and Societies: Gifted and Talented Program, Board of Founders Research Committee, Board Member 1st Prize winner of the18th International Medical Sciences Student Congress, 2003, Turkey, Top Student in research, 2003 and 2004 Allameh ...

Summary

PhD Student, GMU Lab Assistant, Kabbani Lab

My research focuses on identification and characterization of a G protein-binding cluster in α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and the effects of menthol on nicotine pharmacokinetic, pharmacology and dependence in mice.

Biosketch

Current PhD student at George Mason University pursuing a degree in Molecular Neuroscience

Education

Westminster College (PA) Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Neuroscience 2008 – 2012

Honors and Awards

4-VA Grant Award, April 2015 Nadine Kabbani and Justin King Receive 4-VA Grant Award for their project “Mechanisms of susceptibility to nicotine addiction in adolescents: A focus on the addition of menthol to tobacco products”

Experience

Graduate Research Assistant George Mason University, August 2013 Present (2 years 8 months) Fairfax Va Uncovering novel signaling mechanisms of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors and looking at their effects effects on neuronal growth and development.

Research Intern Allegheny General Hospital June 2012 – August 2013 (1 year 3 months) Greater Pittsburgh Area Developement and data analysis of neurophysiology research projects

Publications

Identification and characterization of a G protein-binding cluster in α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Journal of Biological Chemistry June 18, 2015

α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play an important role in synaptic transmission and inflammation. In response to ligands, this receptor channel opens to conduct cations into the cell but desensitizes rapidly. In recent studies we show that α7 nAChRs bind signaling proteins such as ...

Summary

Undergraduate Neuroscience major, George Mason University Lab assistant, Computational Neuroscience Group

Information

Email: kpower@masonlive.gmu.edu

Biosketch

Research Interests