[bioundgrd] FW: UROP: Develop molecular genetic approaches targeting genes of interest in brains of mouse models of neurodegenerative disease

[Joshua Stone]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Emily Hueske <ehanna at mit.edu<mailto:ehanna at mit.edu>>
Subject: UROP: Develop molecular genetic approaches targeting genes of interest in brains of mouse models of neurodegenerative disease
Date: February 5, 2018 at 3:40:56 PM EST
Cc: Alexander Friedman <afried at mit.edu<mailto:afried at mit.edu>>

Hi there,

Would it be possible to send the following UROP posting to biology and bioengineering undergraduate students?

Thank you and best regards,
Emily and Alexander

Emily Hueske, PhD
Research Scientist
Graybiel Laboratory
McGovern Institute for Brain Research
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge MA 02139



Department/Lab: McGovern Institute for Brain Research
Faculty Supervisor: Ann M Graybiel
Emily Hueske


Project Title: Develop molecular genetic and CRISPR constructs for targeting genes of interest in brains of mouse models of neurodegenerative disease


Project Description: Help us solve the mysteries of the brain using your molecular cloning skills!

This is an ideal project for students interested in putting their molecular biology experience to work toward unraveling the brain mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease, particularly Huntington's disease.

You will help us to develop and clone new constructs to target genes in the basal ganglia system of mice. We will design and clone constructs for packaging in viral vectors. These vectors will be delivered to brain systems, in particularly the striatum and dopaminergic systems in mice and evaluated by anatomical/histological, and behavioral evaluations. This project combines molecular biology skills, surgical skills, anatomical and behavioral genetic approaches. The student will be fully supervised and can work on a flexible time schedule. The ideal applicant for this UROP position will have experience with molecular cloning; prior experience with rodent work at MIT is a plus.

Ideally, we would like to find a UROP who could work at least 12 hours per week and would potentially be interested in working with us for longer than a year.

In this project, our goal is to understand the functions of neurons in the striatum and other brain areas in simple behavioral tasks performed by rats and mice, typically involving learning. The striatum is a key part of the basal ganglia that receives input from midbrain dopamine neurons, cortex, and thalamus. It is thought to be centrally involved in procedural learning, habit formation, action selection, and movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and dystonia, as well as addiction, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourette syndrome, schizophrenia, and other disorders.

Prerequisites: Ideally, we would like to find a UROP who can work at least 12 hours per week. UROP projects are for credit; with increasing experience or in special cases, we will consider UROPs for pay.

Contact: Emily Hueske (ehanna at mit.edu<mailto:ehanna at mit.edu>) and Alexander Friedman, PhD (afried at mit.edu<mailto:afried at mit.edu>)



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