I am a graduate student in the neuroscience Ph.D. program at the University of Arizona. I earned a B.S. with honors in Psychology and Molecular & Cellular Biology from the University of Arizona in 2001. I began my research in the Strausfeld laboratory in May 2000 with support from Undergraduate Biology Research Program. My research interests lie in mechanisms and modelling of learning and memory. I began my work with Hyung-Wook Kwon (LINK) analyzing learning and memory in the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana). Together we have developed a number of learning paradigms and techniques based on classical conditioning that will allow for molecular and electrophysiological analysis of learning and memory. Currently I am interested furter developing the behavioral paradigms and techniques incorportating the results into artificial systems leading to the development of adaptive systems representative of natural biological systems. Through the combinination of electrophysiology, neuroanatomy, molecular genetics, behavior, computer science, and robotics I hope to better understand the phenomenon of neural plasticity and the mechanisms of learning and memory.

Abtracts:

Kwon, H-W, D. D. Lent, N. J. Strausfeld. (2001) . Antennal movements reveal associative learning in the american cockroach. Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, November 10-15, San Diego, CA. 308.10.