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Mark Schnitzer is Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences
and Applied Physics. His research concerns both optical imaging
and cerebellar neural circuits. The Schnitzer lab has invented
two forms of fiber optic imaging, one- and two-photon fluorescence
microendoscopy, which enable minimally invasive imaging of
blood cells and neurons in deep brain tissues. The lab is
further developing microendoscopy technology, studying how
experience or environment alters neuronal properties, and
exploring clinical applications. Much research focuses on
classical eyeblink conditioning, a form of associative memory
that depends on cerebellar function. Many theories of such
learning focus on cerebellar Purkinje neurons, which the
Schnitzer lab has shown they can image in large numbers in
live mice. By combining imaging, electrophysiological, behavioral,
and computational approaches, the lab seeks to understand
cerebellar dynamics underlying learning, memory, and forgetting. |
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Annette Lewis
Scientific Project Manager |
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After completing postdoctoral research in neuroscience
at Stanford and Genentech, Inc., I worked as a scientist
and scientific manager at Entelos, Inc., working closely
with both biologists and engineers to build computer based
models of disease, including asthma and other inflammatory
diseases. I have returned to Stanford to apply principles
of scientific management to the work in the Schnitzer lab,
where innovation of new brain imaging modalities involves
detailed planning and coordination between several personnel
with distinct areas of expertise. I also help coordinate
our relationships with scientific corporations seeking
to translate our inventions into the marketplace. |
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My early work in the Schnitzer lab concerned the invention
of both one- and two-photon fluorescence microendoscopy.
Now, as Operations Director I am coordinating multiple
aspects of our internal research program and our interactions
with industry. I continue to engage in research on microendoscopy
and have recently focused on creation of a chronic mouse
preparation for long-term microendoscopy studies. I also
enjoy scientific mentoring of students in the lab, particularly
undergraduates. |
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Jane Li
Life Science Research Assistant |
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I support the laboratory through a variety of research
activities involving histology, circuit tracing, genotyping,
husbandry, and surgery. My collaborators include Robert
Barretto, Lynn Sun, and Axel Nimmerjahn. |
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Andrea Lui
Life Science Research Technician |
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I am working closely with Axel Nimmerjahn and Eran Mukamel,
performing both data analysis and experiments regarding
cerebellum-dependent behavior. |
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My research focuses on the development of Microelectromechanical
Systems (MEMS) based microendoscopes for minimally invasive in
vivo brain imaging. In Prof. Mark J. Schnitzer's group,
I am collaborating with Benjamin Flusberg, Eric Cocker,
Robert Barretto, Laurie Burns and Juergen Jung in developing
a MEMS two-photon fluorescence endoscope that allows in
vivo neuron real time imaging in the brain of awake
and freely moving mice over extended time periods. I am
also interested in clinicial applications in human patients. |
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Fang-Ping Chen
Postdoctoral Scholar |
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My research interest is to investigate the neuronal circuit
involving eyeblinks in the mouse cerebellum. Eyeblinks
have been used as model systems to study motor control
and motor learning due to their simplicity. My goal is
first to identify the blink-related cerebellar neurons
physiologically and anatomically in mice. Furthermore,
I examine the electrophysiological and morphorlogical changes
when animals are trained with Pavlovian eyeblink conditioning
paradigm in order to understand the role of the cerebellum
in motor learning. |
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Michael Molineux
Postdoctoral Scholar |
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My PhD research focused on in vitro electrophysiological
studies of cerebellar neuronal spiking properties. In the
Schnitzer lab, I am building on this background to pursue
a combination of in vitro and in vivo experiments
aimed at understanding how cerebellar networks direct motor
learning and how the activity of a population of individual
neurons may change during the course of learning, memory
recall, and extinction. |
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In addition to neurons, the brain contains three major
types of glial cells. Among these, the role of astrocytes,
including Bergmann glia (BG) in the cerebellum, has remained
enigmatic. In recent years, astrocytes have been shown
to have some surprising functions, including control of
synapse formation and function. Furthermore, both synaptic
and structural plasticity processes thought to underlie
learning and memory in the brain involve astrocytes. To
study the potential role of BG cells in cerebellum-dependent
motor learning I will monitor neuronal and BG network function
in live mammalian subjects using two-photon fluorescence
imaging of cellular calcium dynamics. By using transgenic
mice I will examine how selective BG gene interference
perturbs neuron-glia network processing as well as the
acquisition and expression of learned behavior. |
| Graduate
Students |
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I am interested in using in vivo two-photon fluorescence
microscopy to visualize neuronal dynamics in the cerebellum
and am collaborating with Amit Metha. With Daniel Wetmore
and Devin Kehl, I am particularly interested in studying
cerebellar circuit dynamics related to classical conditioning.
I hope to further our understanding of how an animal analyzes
available sensory information, and determines the salient
information warranting a conditioned response. |
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Laurie Burns
Graduate Student |
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My current projects are focused on the development of
fluorescence microendoscopy approaches to imaging cellular
level activity in freely moving rodents. This research
involves a combination of applied optics and behavioral
and circuits neuroscience. In these pursuits I am collaborating
with Benjamin Flusberg, Axel Nimmerjahn, and Eric Ho. |
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Eric Cocker
Graduate Student |
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My main research interests lie in the designing of mechatronic
devices in the sub-areas of medical devices and robotics.
I am currently working with Benjie Flusberg, Juergen Jung,
and Erik Anderson on the design and implementation of a miniature
device for imaging in the brains of awake-behaving mice. |
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My research focuses on two-photon fluorescence microendoscopy
in the live mammalian brain. In particular, I am developing
a miniaturized, fiber-optic based microendoscopy system for
performing two-photon fluorescence imaging in the brains
of awake, behaving mice. This device should allow us to link
an animal’s behavior with the underlying neuronal mechanisms,
and will help broaden our understanding of how learning and
memory are encoded at the level of individual and small groups
of neurons. I am collaborating in this work with Juergen
Jung, Eric Cocker, and Erik Anderson. |
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Eric Tattwei Ho
Graduate Student |
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My primary interest lies in extending the capabilities of
fluorescence imaging techniques such as exploring new ways
to image faster and deeper. |
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The cerebellum presents both sophisticated complexity and
elegant simplicity. As a theoretical physicist, I am employing
an array of computational and analytic techniques to explore
the computations enabled by cerebellar circuitry. An understanding
of the cerebellum in terms of its operation at the cellular
level may help simplify and illuminate several areas of cerebellum-related
physiology and behavioral science, including the psychology
of classical conditioning; the pathology of diseases of ataxia;
and the biology of learning and memory. The array of tools
I am using in my approach to this problem includes large-scale
simulations; analytic study of the cerebellum as a dynamical
system; as well as contemporary approaches to biological
structures involving network motifs. |
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My current research aims to combine and utilize molecular
biology, behavioral neuroscience and biophysical techniques
towards the study of cerebellar circuits. At present, I have
developed and am developing lentivirus and pseudorabies vectors
to deliver genetically encodable optical probes to the neurons
of live rodents. These viral vectors will be used in a collaborative
project with Juergen Jung and Tammy Wang to assess structural
changes in neurons and neuronal as the animal undergoes various
physiological/behavioral events. In addition, I am also constructing
viral vectors for the expression of calcium sensors with
which I hope to gain an insight into the calcium signaling
patterns of neurons and how these patterns may change as
neurons are exposed to different electrical or behavioral
stimuli. In both cases, imaging will be done using in vivo
microendoscopy or microscopy approaches developed by the
Schnitzer group. |
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My research interests are focused on understanding the
brain at a systems-level—to attempt to decode the
patterns of communication between populations of cells
and to integrate this knowledge with mechanisms of behavior.
In collaboration with Devin Kehl, I am developing a mouse
model of eyeblink conditioning, a cerebellar-dependant
form of associative learning. Together with Todd Anderson,
we will study the physiology of cerebellar neurons that
are responsible for specific features of this behavior,
such as acquisition, savings, and extinction. Electrophysiology
in both anesthetized and awake, behaving animals will map
these features to cerebellar regions and cell types. In
addition, future imaging experiments offer promise for
investigating sub-cellular processes involved in learning.
In parallel with these in vivo experiments, I am collaborating
with Eran Mukamel on computer simulations of cerebellar
biophysics and circuit properties.
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Michael Wittenberg
Masters Student |
CONTACT |
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I am designing a fluorescence microendoscopy system for
use in humans during temporal bone surgeries in the auditory
system.
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