Faculty Mentor: Matt Wachowiak
Title: Professor
College: Medicine
School / Department: Neurobiology
Email: matt.wachowiak@utah.edu
Project description
This project focuses on testing how odors activate neurons in the mouse brain. Students will work with postdocs to do live imaging of the brain in awake mice while presenting the mice with a wide variety of odors, such as pure odors and natural odors. We are able to image from multiple types of neurons to understand how neurons communicate to encode information. This is an opportunity to gain experience using popular neurobiology techniques and learn more about how sensory information is encoded in the brain.
Keywords: neurobiology, olfaction, two photon, mice, histology
Student Role: We are looking for students to assist with ongoing projects, with potential to develop their own individual projects. Specific tasks include preparing odors, handling mice, training mice on behavioral assays, histology, assistance with live brain imaging, and data analysis.
Student Benefits: Research experience, publications, writing and data analysis experience, credit
Project Duration: On going, minimum of 10 hours per week depending on the position type (volunteer, UROP, etc.)
Opportunity Location Type: In Person
Is this a paid opportunity: ToBeDetermined
Paid Description:
Volunteer, Prepare a UROP proposal, Write an Honors Thesis or Senior Thesis, Earn independent study credit
Minimum Requirements: Intro biology course
How To Apply: Contact Dr. Wachowiak: matt.wachowiak@utah.edu