LAB ALUMNI:

> Mihoko Leon — Research Associate

> Andrew Romasco — Research Student

Current: Medical Student at the University of Massachusetts Chan School of Medicine, class of 2025

> Luca Szczepanik — Research Student

Current: Medical Student at Ross University School of Medicine

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is a world-class teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School and is located in the heart of Boston. The lab is part of the Medicine Department/ Nephrology division of BIDMC and physically located near the Neurology and Neuroscience Department in the Center for Life Science. 

Research in the lab focuses on neural circuits in the brain and spinal cord that control the lower urinary tract (including the bladder) to function. Examples of projects are: 1) Understanding connectivity of and activity dynamics in neuronal circuits underlying urine storage and urinary continence, 2) Optogenetically stimulating and inhibiting neurons to explore how voluntary control is exerted over Barrington’s nucleus neurons, 3) Identifying functional neuron subtypes in the micturition reflex pathway, and 4) Studying the processes by which an organism senses, interprets, integrates, and regulates signals originating from within itself (e.g., bladder fullness). * Read more about lab projects on the “Projects” page.

The key priorities of the lab are high quality science, clear (scientific) communication, and a supportive and inclusive environment. As a mentor I will provide a stimulating and collaborative lab environment and I will do everything in my power to help lab members to achieve their career goals.

We are looking for enthusiastic researchers to join our team! Highly motivated applicants with a doctoral degree in neuroscience, biology, biomedical engineering or related field who would like to lead bold new research projects are encouraged to apply: Please send an email with your CV, a description of your research interests and career goals, and contact information for three references. 

Prior experience in at least one of these areas of expertise is preferred: - animal behavior and genetics | - opto- or chemogenetics | - circuit tracing | - data-analysis using Matlab | - cystometry or (EUS) EMG recordings | - stereotactic surgeries and optical fiber implantation | - single cell transcriptomics | - fiber photometry or other variants of Ca2+ imaging.

Underrepresented minorities in science and medicine are encouraged to apply.

Collaborators and friends:

Zeidel Lab | BIDMC Medicine department; ‘Bladder and kidney physiology’.

Lowell Lab | BIDMC Medicine department; ‘The neural circuitry of energy and fluid balance’.

Saper Lab | BIDMC Neurology department; ‘Integrated functions maintained by the hypothalamus, including regulation of sleep wake cycles, body temperature and feeding’.

Voiding Dysfunction Lab | BIDMC Medicine department; ‘Elucidating the molecular basis for diseases of voiding dysfunction’.

Tsai Lab | BIDMC Medicine department; ‘Next generation sequencing technologies and analysis to better understand the genetic, epigenetic, and tissue/cell type bases of metabolic disease’.

VanderHorst Lab | BIDMC Neurology department; ‘Brainstem and spinal neuroanatomy and movement disorders’.

Fuller Lab | BIDMC Neurology department; ‘Sleep-arousal physiology’.

Ross Lab | Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry; ’The Neurobiology of Metabolism, Nutrition, and Stress.’

Campbell Lab | University of Virginia, Department of Biology; ‘The neurobiology of appetite, digestion, and metabolism’.