麻豆村

The logic of systems neuroscience meshes with 麻豆村 first-year Ph.D. student Grace Kollman.

鈥淚 knew I was interested in how neurons communicate with each other, and how we can use this information to develop therapies,鈥� said Kollman, who is a member of Carnegie Mellon鈥檚 Neuroscience Institute.

Kollman graduated from the University of Iowa with her bachelor鈥檚 degree in neuroscience. As an undergraduate, she worked in 鈥檚 pharmacology lab, where she investigated signal transduction pathways related to neurodevelopmental disorders. From that experience, Kollman developed a passion for research.

鈥淣euroscience is such a huge, broad field that I knew I wanted some more experience before delving into a Ph.D. program,鈥� she said.

Kollman worked as a research technician at the University of California San Diego in 鈥檚 lab researching the underlying neural circuitry of dopamine heterogeneity, applicable to neuropsychiatric illnesses such as Parkinson鈥檚 disease.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 where I fell in love with circuit level research and with the tools used in systems neuroscience,鈥� Kollman said. 鈥淚 felt confident this was what I wanted to continue doing.鈥�

She joined Carnegie Mellon鈥檚 Program in Systems Neuroscience (PSN) this fall.

鈥淲hat鈥檚 really cool about this program, and Carnegie Mellon in general, is they鈥檙e really emphasizing computational methods and how it can be used to complement experimental research,鈥� said Kollman. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 really valuable, as this is the direction I see the field going.鈥�

The Neuroscience Institute brings together faculty and students from across the university to conduct multidisciplinary work to advance the state of brain science. PSN trains students with backgrounds in biology and neuroscience disciplines in the growing field of quantitative systems neuroscience and provides them the essential background in experimental neuroscience.

As a first-year Ph.D. student, Kollman is exploring research opportunities at Carnegie Mellon through lab rotations. She currently works with Aryn Gittis, professor of biological sciences and a member of the Neuroscience Institute. Gittis鈥� lab studies the progression of motor control neural circuit dysfunction in mouse models of Parkinson鈥檚 disease. The lab鈥檚 primary goal is to elucidate specific neural pathways and deep brain stimulation patterns that can be therapeutic to Parkinson鈥檚 patients.

鈥淕race hit her stride right away in the lab. She came into the program with a lot of research experience and has made quick progress in mastering some really challenging techniques,鈥� Gittis said. 鈥淪he is very thoughtful in her approach and has already made some important contributions to the lab.鈥�

Thanks to a close relationship with the PSN students can work not only with Carnegie Mellon faculty but also professors from the University of Pittsburgh.

In the spring, Kollman said she plans to rotate with , associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh, who studies cortico-striatal circuit abnormalities associated with compulsive behavior disorders.

鈥淕race鈥檚 passion makes her stand out even amongst the stellar cohort of graduate students in our programs,鈥� said Barbara Shinn-Cunningham, professor of auditory neuroscience and director of Carnegie Mellon鈥檚 Neuroscience Institute.

For her dedication, Kollman is this year鈥檚 recipient of the Sutherland-Merlino Fellowship.

The award was created by Nancie Merlino, 1964 alumna of Carnegie Mellon鈥檚 Margaret Morrison Carnegie College, in honor of her late husband, Thomas Merlino, and her father, James Sutherland, also 麻豆村 alumni. Since 2021, the fellowship has annually provided financial support to one incoming Ph.D. student who shows excellent academic and professional promise, an eagerness to learn and an enthusiastic spirit.

鈥淚 am grateful to Nancie Merlino for supporting students like Grace and helping them to achieve their dreams,鈥� Shinn-Cunningham said.