Colin Smith

EDUCATION

June 2010 – Present (Expected Graduation 2015)

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Doctorate of Philosophy - Neuroscience

August 2005 – May 2009

MacalesterCollege, Saint Paul, Minnesota• Bachelor of Arts

Majors: Cognitive & Neuroscience Studies • Psychology

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

January 2011 – Current

Thesis Research,Department of Neurology,Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, Advisor: Akiva S. Cohen, Ph.D.

  • Characterized the changes in excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission in cerebral cortex following lateral fluid percussion brain injury in mice
  • Performed live dissections to remove the intact brain
  • Prepared acute brain slices
  • Simultaneously recorded bothinhibitory post-synaptic currents and excitatory post-synaptic currents in layer V pyramidal cells via whole-cell patch clamp technique
  • Analyzed electrophysiology data

September 2010 – December 2010

Laboratory Rotation, Department of Neurology,University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, Advisor: David Raizen, M.D./Ph.D.

  • Investigated the role of specific neuropeptides in inducing lethargus, a sleep-like behavior in C.elegans
  • Developed five transgenic lines, each conditionally overexpressing a specific neuropeptide implicated in lethargus
  • Used Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and PCR-Stitching techniques to create novel gene constructs
  • Imaged worms using differential interference contrast microscopy
  • Conducted behavioral experiments to quantify phenotypes of transgenic lines
  • Analyzed behavioral data and prepared presentation

June 2010 – September 2010

Laboratory Rotation, Department of Neurology,Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, Advisor: Akiva S. Cohen, Ph.D.

  • Characterized the changes in the perforant path of the dentate gyrus following lateral fluid percussion model of brain injury in mice
  • Performed live dissections to remove the intact brain
  • Prepared acute brain slices
  • Recorded field excitatory post-synaptic potentials in the perforant path inputs to the dentate gyrus
  • Analyzed electrophysiology data and prepared presentation

August 2009 – June 2010

ORISE Intern, Research Division,Physiology and Immunology Branch,United States Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD), Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, Advisor: Heidi Hoard-Fruchey, Ph.D.

  • Involved with three separate projects:
  • Identified changes in protein expression in hippocampus and piriform cortex of rodent subjects following acute chemical warfare nerve agent (CWNA) exposure
  • Quantifiedprotein concentration using EZQ protein quantification
  • Purified samples using 2D Gel Clean up kit
  • Labeled proteins with fluorescent Cy Dyes
  • Performed 2-Dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE) experiments
  • Imaged using Amersham Biosciences Typhoon Trio Plus Variable Mode Imager
  • Quantified cytokine levels using Luminex, a bead-based multiplex immunoassay
  • Investigation of molecular mechanisms of cardiopathology induced by acute CWNA exposure
  • Developed a protocol for homogenization of cardiac tissue to maximize protein concentrations
  • Quantified cytokine levels using Luminex, a bead-based multiplex immunoassay
  • Analyzed neutrophil marker levels using multiplex ELISA assays
  • Determined the role of astrocytic damage/death on neuronal damage/death following CWNA exposure
  • Performed tissue culture experiments with astrocyte, neuron, and neuron-astrocyte mixed and transwell co-cultures
  • Characterized CWNA-induced damage to astrocytes and neurons using lactate dehydrogenase release assays, immunohistochemistry, traditional histochemistry, light and fluorescence microscopy

August 2008 – November 2008

Independent Research, Department of Psychology, Cognitive & Neuroscience Studies Program, Macalester College, Saint Paul, MN, Advisor: Eric P. Wiertelak, Ph.D.

  • Investigated alternative medicines for anxiety using rodent subjects
  • Conducted behavioral tests (staircase test and elevated plus-maze) in rats designed to measure subjects’ anxiety level
  • Sorted and interpreted computer data
  • Performed statistical analysis
  • Prepared and edited manuscript detailing research
  • Presented results at international and national conferences

January 2008 – May 2008

Directed Research, Department of Psychology, Cognitive & Neuroscience Studies Program, MacalesterCollege, Saint Paul, MN, Advisor: Eric P. Wiertelak, Ph.D.

  • Investigated alternative behavioral paradigms to measure anxious behavior using rodent subjects
  • Conducted staircase tests in rats, a behavioral test designed to measure subjects’ anxiety level
  • Sorted and interpreted computer data
  • Performed statistical analysis
  • Presented results at regional conference

POSTER PRESENTATIONS

Nelson M, Smith CJ, George-Raizen J, Trojanowski N, Raizen D. (2011) Behavioral quiescence is regulated by the FRPamide neuropeptide encoding genes nlp-22 and -23. 18th International C. elegans Meeting, Los Angeles, CA.

Hoard-Fruchey HM, Smith CJ, Johnson EA, Kan RK (2010)Seizure-Induced Cellular Proteome Modifications in the Rat Hippocampus and Piriform Cortex. Society for Neuroscience Meeting, San Diego, CA.

Hoard-Fruchey HM, Smith CJ, Johnson EA, Kan RK (2010) Alterations of the Cellular Proteome in the Hippocampus and Piriform Cortex Brain Regions Following Soman-Induced Seizure. U.S. Army Medical Defense Bioscience Review,Hunt Valley, MD.

Smith CJ, Wiertelak, EP. (2008) The anxiolytic effects of Wood Betony in the rat staircase and elevated plus-maze paradigms: Investigations and potential GABAergic mechanisms. Society for Neuroscience Meeting, WashingtonD.C.

Smith CJ, Wiertelak, EP. (2008) The anxiolytic effects of Wood Betony in the rat staircase and elevated plus-maze paradigms: Investigations and potential GABAergic mechanisms. Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience Meeting, Washington,D.C.

Smith CJ (2008) Wood Betonyshows anxiolytic properties in rats in the staircase test.MidBrains: The Undergraduate Neuroscience Conference of the Upper Midwest, Saint Paul, MN.

FUNDING

2010 – 2012Systems and Integrative Biology Training Grant • Appointee at University of Pennsylvania

AWARDS

2009 – PresentPhi Beta Kappa National Honor Society • Member

2009 – PresentPsi Chi: Psychology Honor Society • Member

2009 – PresentNational Football Foundation’s Hampshire Honor Society • Member

2007 – PresentNu Rho Psi: Neuroscience Honor Society • Member

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2008– SpringBehavioral Neuroscience Teaching Assistant, MacalesterCollege, Saint Paul, MN

VOLUNTEER & COMMUNITY SERVICE

2008– SummerChildren’s Hospital of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI• Volunteer

Provided support and assistance for patients and their families in the NeuroscienceCenter.

2007Kids Judge:MacalesterCollege Neuroscience Fair, Saint Paul, MN• Student Guide

2005Kids Judge:MacalesterCollege Neuroscience Fair, Saint Paul, MN• Presenter