Research Opportunity

The Siegel lab is looking for pre-med/pre-grad undergraduate research assistants to help out with several ongoing research projects. Our lab investigates electrophysiological, behavioral, and molecular deficits in mouse models of Schizophrenia and Autism. Undergraduates would work under direct supervision of a MD/PhD graduate student or senior post doc and are expected to become highly independent. Time commitment of 10-20 hours/week which can be done for honors thesis, credit, or work study. Undergraduates would be expected to participate in and take lead on publication of work. Potential projects include:

• Developing a behavioral task to assess working memory in mouse models of schizophrenia, followed by drug testing
• Investigation of language lateralization in mice using electrophysiological recordings
• Characterizing electrophyiological activation of amygdalar activity during social behaviors of mice
• Development of auditory EEG tasks in mice to predict deficits observed observed in schizophrenia

Previous mouse work and/or experience with signal processing is helpful. Please send a resume to mgandal@mail.med.upenn.edu.

BrainGate

Although still in its early stages, this technology has truly unbelievable potential! BrainGate, a Brain Computer Interface (BCI) jointly developed by Cyberkinetics and Brown University, converts the brain's electrical signals to computer input signals, allowing a completely paralyzed person to use thoughts to control anything from Microsoft Windows to their own prosthetic arm. In what direction would you like to see this technology go? Will we ever get to a point where a functioning human selects to have this chip implanted as an enhancement mechanism?

Comment below..

Also, check out this video to learn more and see the program in action: