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Marquette University
Neuroscience Research

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Brain to Behavior

Our researchers tackle some of the biggest problems in neuroscience using cutting-edge tools and multiple levels of analysis.

 

Areas of focus include: motivated behavior, addiction, stress, neuropsychiatric disorders, spinal cord injury, circadian biology, and neurodegeneration.

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Research Specialties

  • Cognition & Memory   

  • Motivation & Affect  

  • Behavioral Neuroendocrinology  

  • Cellular Signaling and Plasticity   

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Cognition & Memory   

Researchers in this group are working to characterize the brain areas and mechanisms used to acquire, encode, and use information to guide behavior. Their research is shedding light on higher-order brain processes.   

  

Baker, Ghasemzadeh, Gilmartin, Hearing, Peoples, Savtchouk, Wheeler   

 

Special techniques: Sophisticated behavioral models, Slice electrophysiology, In vivo electrophysiology, Fast scan cyclic voltammetry, Fiber photometry, 2-photon microscopy 

Motivation & Affect  

Researchers in this area are working to characterize the brain areas and mechanisms that regulate mood and drive us to pursue pleasurable stimuli. Their findings are shedding light on the neuropathology that underlies addiction, mood disorders, and obesity.  

  

Baker, Choi, Cullinan, Gasser, Ghasemzadeh, Gilmartin, Hearing, Savtchouk, Wheeler  

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Special techniques: Sophisticated behavioral models, Slice electrophysiology, In vivo electrophysiology, Fast scan cyclic voltammetry, Fiber photometry, 2-photon microscopy 

Behavioral Neuroendocrinology  

Neural circuits regulate hormones and in turn are modulated by hormones. Strengths in this research area include feeding, metabolism, stress neurobiology, circadian rhythms, and sexual differentiation of neural processing.   

  

Choi, Cullinan, Evans, Gasser, Gilmartin, Hearing  

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Special techniques: in situ, track tracing, real-time optical imaging, optogenetics, electrophysiology  

Cellular Signaling and Plasticity   

Communication and change are critical features of neural circuits that support behavior, with dysfunction often leading to disease. Spanning all levels of neuroscience, strengths in this area include expertise in mechanisms of genetic plasticity, synaptic signaling, and circuit-level remodeling in neural systems important for human health.   

  

Baker, Blackmore, Choi, Cullinan, Evans, Gasser, Ghasemzadeh, Gilmartin, Hearing, Lobner, Peoples, Savtchouk, Wheeler  

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Special techniques: genetic sequencing, viral-genetic manipulations, optogenetics, fiber photometry, real-time optical imaging, 2-photon microscopy, electrophysiology

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Graduate Program in Neuroscience

The Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience at Marquette University offers an outstanding opportunity for graduate training in a collaborative and interactive research environment. Our faculty is dedicated to preparing the next generation of neuroscientists who will advance understanding of brain function and dysfunction.

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Our faculty members have diverse interests and areas of expertise, ranging from the molecular basis of neural function to translational applications in the clinic. Reflecting this integrative and multi-faceted environment, our graduate program training offers a PhD in neuroscience with specialization in 1 of 3 areas:

Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience

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Computational, Neurorehabilitation and Neuroimaging

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This doctoral program brings together faculty from biology, biomedical sciences, psychology, engineering, exercise science, philosophy, mathematics, and statistics. This collective expertise provides rigorous training through coursework, cutting-edge research, and other educational opportunities designed to provide students with the intellectual and technical skills required for a successful career in neuroscience.

For more information on our program and how to apply:

Neuroscience research at Marquette: 

@MU_Neuroscience

Program
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