Katz Lab -people

Home | People | Research | Publications | Pictures

The Katz Laboratory
342 Natural Science Center

Lab Phone: 404-413-5364

Paul S. Katz

Professor

Faculty Profile on the Biology Department Site

Director of the Center for Neuromics

Co-director of the Neural Systems and Behavior Course at the MBL at Woods Hole, MA.

Curriculum vitae (pdf file)

Courses: Biol 6102 | Biol 8020

Office 432 Science Annex, Phone: 404-413-5398

E-mail: pkatz (at) gsu.edu

I have an interest in understanding neural circuits, neuromodulation, and evolution. The projects of the people in my lab reflect these interests.

Akira Sakurai, Ph.D.

Research Scientist

Home Page

Curriculum vitae

E-mail: akira (at) gsu.edu

I am looking at the dynamics of serotonergic neuromodulation in the Tritonia swim circuit. I found an example of we call spike frequency dependent neuromodulation. I have recently discovered that heterosynaptic plasticity and homosynaptic plasticity interact in Tritonia. My latest project is looking at functional recovery from injury in Tritonia.

Josh Lillvis

Ph.D. Student

E-mail: jlillvis1 (at) student.gsu.edu

I am trying to determine the peptide neurotransmitter used by Tritonia neuron C2. I am also looking for potential homologues of this neuron in Aplysia.

Charuni Gunaratne

Ph.D. Student

E-mail: cgunaratne1 (at) student.gsu.edu

I started examining the effects of Protein Kinase C on the Tritonia swim motor pattern. I am also doing Calcium imaging combined with electrophysiology.

Sagar Jhala

Undergraduate Presidential Scholar

E-mail: sagarjhala (at) yahoo.com

I am learning confocal microsopy and immunohistochemistry. I have identified serotonergic neurons in Aplysia that have their axons in particular nerves.

Arianna Tamvacakis

Laboratory technician

E-mail: tamvacakis (at) gmail.com

I have been learning the techniques in the lab and have begun an independent project in the lab.

Former Lab Members:

Robert Calin-Jageman

Postdoctoral Associate and Adjunct Faculty until 2007

Now an Assistant Professor at Dominican University

Home Page

E-mail: rcalinjageman (at) dom.edu

Bob led the effort on the NeuronBank project. This is a neuroinformatics approach to organizing information about identified neurons and their synaptic connections. He also did computer simulations of the Tritonia swim network and created a tool called NeuronPM, which allows lab computers to be linked together to perform large parameter sweeps using the NEURON simulation environment. He later collaborated in the creation of Tavi He spends his time stalking Nobel Laureates.

Evan Hill, Ph.D.

Former Postdoctoral Associate, now post-doctoral associate with William Frost at Rosalind Franklin Univ.

E-mail: evan.hill (at) rosalindfranklin.edu

Evan did calcium signaling in Tritonia swim CPG neurons. He examined the extent to which the calcium signals are caused by the membrane potential oscillations versus synaptic inputs that act through second messengers. He also looked at calciumdynamics caused by stimulation of the serotonergic CPG member DSI (dorsal swim interneuron). This could helped uncover some of the mechanisms involved in spike-timing-dependent neuromodulation.

James Newcomb

Ph.D. Student – defended Aug 2006

Thesis: Homologous neurons and their locomotor functions in nudibranch molluscs

Curriculum vitae

Current Address:
Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
NEC Box # 29
New England College
24 Bridge St
Henniker, NH 03242-3296

E-mail: jnewcomb (at) nec.edu

Jim’s thesis was to compare the properties and functions of homologous identified neurons in closely related species. He has one paper published in J.Comp.Neurol., one in J.Comp. Physiol.A. and two more on the way.

2008

Nina Milosavljevic

Undergraduate researcher

E-mail: nmilosavljevic1 (at) student.gsu.edu

Nina was an undergraduate on an exchange program from Serbia. She learned confocal microsopy, immunohistochemistry, and dye back fills. She contributed to the NeuronBank Wiki.

Michelle Naugle

Research Assistant

E-mail: ontopofthisworld (at) yahoo.com

Michelle is now a graduate student in the Neuroscience Program the University of Texas in Austin. She did many things in the lab including modeling, immunohistochemistry, and electrophysiology.

Lisa Hayden

Research Assistant

Lisa worked on a collaborative project between the GSU Department of Biology and the new Georgia Aquarium. We created a laboratory-based, hands-on educational program for K-12 students visiting the Aquarium. The project team included GSU Biology and CBN faculty, the GSU Bio-Bus, and a new GSU Biology intern program.