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BARRESI BIOGRAPHY

Why are we the way we are? This is the fundamental question that fuels my interest in the sciences. The answer to this question may be found through a variety of disciplines; however, a majority of the most important events that set up what we look like and even how we behave occur at the very beginning of our lives during embryonic development. This basic question has led me to become a developmental neurobiologist, someone who tries to determine how the nervous system first gets formed. I am interested in how the different types of cells in the nervous system interact during development to set up the correct neuronal wiring in the brain. In January of 2005 I joined the faculty of the department of Biological Sciences at Smith College, and created an internally and externally supported research laboratory. Currently, my lab investigates the roles of the Slit and Robo gene families during axon and glial cell interactions using the zebrafish as a model system. I created Smith College’s first zebrafish facility housing about 2000 adult fish and the facility will grow in the years to come. In addition to research, I have a great love for teaching. I am committed to developing novel teaching strategies that challenge students to become critical thinkers in the field of Biology as well as to adapt to an ever-changing student body. Prior to Smith College, I completed a three year postdoctoral position in Dr. Rolf Karlstrom’s Laboratory at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. This is where I began my first immersion in the field of neuroscience. The Karlstrom lab studies brain patterning with a particular emphasis on pituitary specification as well as optic chiasm and commissure formation in the forebrain. My postdoctoral research was focused on the molecular mechanisms of commissural axon guidance in the zebrafish forebrain. May 2001, I received my Doctoral degree from Wesleyan University, Middletown CT. While at Wesleyan I worked in Dr. Stephen Devoto’s laboratory investigating the requirement of Sonic Hedgehog signaling for slow muscle fiber type development during zebrafish embryogenesis and muscle growth. Originally, I had serious intensions of pursuing a career as a highschool Biology teacher, however while in graduate school I gained a real appreciation for how well research and teaching complement each other. An active research program fuels critical thinking and maintains excitement for learning new things about the world, while teaching truly forces one to understand what we currently know about our world as well as be able to communicate that knowledge. As and undergraduate student at Merrimack College, North Andover, MA, I was eager to learn as much as I could about a variety of different disciplines in Biology. I worked as an aquatic technician in the Environmental Lab at the Milestone Point Nuclear Power Plant examining the population and growth of many different types of fish and mollusks. I spent one semester at the Sea Education Association and Woodshole Oceanographics Institute with focused studies on oceanography, marine biology, and developing a research project. I then was one of thirty crew members that sailed the 134ft. Corwith Cramer research vessel around the Caribbean Sea. We sailed 24-7, non-stop carrying out a variety of research projects. Specifically I studied the biogeography of ciguatera related toxic dinoflagellates in highly polluted verse non-polluted areas. This was an amazing experience on so many levels, however I decided that the ocean was just too big of a laboratory for me maintain enough control over my experiments. So, I tried out bench work in the area of cellular and molecular biology. I first worked as a lab technician at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute with Dr. Linda Clayton studying the process of apoptosis during negative T-cell selection in the mouse thymus. This was a remarkable experience that confirmed for me the general area of research I was most attracted to, that of molecular and developmental biology. During my senior year at Merrimack College I conducted an honors thesis projected with Dr. Josephine Napolitano focused on defining whether two anti-cancer drugs might work synergistically targeting the mitochondria of a colon cancer cell line. While at Merrimack I also minored in Studio Art, with a concentration in illustration, mosaic design, and photography. I have been very lucky to use my artistic abilities to visually represent some of the seemingly abstract biological processes I research, as it has been extremely helpful for my comprehension and ability to communicate the research being conducted. Many of my illustrations have been incorporated into my research publications. It has been a mutually beneficial, interdisciplinary merging of art and science. I was born and grew up in Windsor, CT, and attended the Windsor public Highschool. I am the youngest of seven children, having four brothers and two sisters.

CURRENT LAB MEMBERS

Alexander Workman aworkman@smith.edu Alex has been the labs research technician since July of 2007. He plays crucial roles in the development, maintenance, and management of all the Barresi Lab research studies. Sean Burton, Ph.D. Candidate sburton@nsm.umass.edu Sean is a graduate student in the Neuroscience and Behavior Program at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. He is under the Joint supervision of Michael Barresi (Smith College) and Rolf Karlstrom (UMass). Sean's has worked to complete the characterization of a screen of insertional mutants for axon and astroglial defects. He is now focused on defining the role of axon-astroglial interactions during the formation of forebrain commissures. Kimberly Johnson, Masters Degree Candidate in Biology kjohnson@smith.edu Kim masters thesis is focused on characterizing the role of the Eg5,Kinesin related motor protein in the cell division process of neural stem cells throughout the embryonic central nervous system. Sarah Bashiruddin, '10 Neuroscience Major, Past Stride Scholar, New Beckman Scholar sbashiru@email.smith.edu Sarah will be completing an honors thesis next year to define the populations of astroglia in the forebrain and test directly whether they are required for commissure formation. Alissa Ortman, '10 Neuroscience Major, Past Stride Scholar aortman@email.smith.edu Alissa works with Kim on characterizing the role of Eg5 in radial glial cell division. Alexandra Sobhani, '11 Biology and Neuroscience Double Major asobhani@smith.edu Alexandra has been responsible for a majority of our labs genotyping, but will be transitioning into testing the role of Slit1a in POC guidance. Christine Bishundat, '12 Undecided, AEMES Scholar cbishund@email.smith.edu In her first year Chris is becoming familiar with zebrafish husbandry and providing assistance on the characterization of astroglia in the forebrain.

PAST LAB MEMBERS

Allegra Lord Biology Major, 2005 Allegra began the first attempts to knock down robo1 function and determine its effect on the POC. After graduation she took a position as a 2-3yr lab technician in Leonard Zon's Zebrafish lab in at MGH, Boston, MA. She has been most interested in the stem cell work they have been doing and has plans to go on for her Ph.D. focused on stem cell development. Kristina DiPietrantonio Biology Major, 2007 Kristina was the first student to work in my laboratory and spent a total of 3 years. Her efforts initially were focused on defining the role of Roundabouts, but soon shifted to the analysis of 50 insertional mutants generated by the Hopkins Lab at MIT. Kristina then concentrated on characterizing one of the mutants that effects the eg5 gene. She will be working in Brent Stockwell's Lab at Columbia University testing the effect of various small molecules involved in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Kristina is also enrolled in the Biotechnology Masters Program at Columbia and hopes to pursue a career in the Biotech/pharmaceutical Industry. Anne Tanenhaus Neuroscience Major, 2007 National Arnold & and Mabel Beckman Scholar Anne has spent two years in my lab and completed an honors thesis to which the college granted her highest honors. Her work was focused on defining the role of Robo1,2, &3 during forebrain commissure formation using both molecular and genetic loss of function approaches. After taking a year of R&R in Arizona she will be applying to Ph.D. programs. Her main interest is to study the genetic and molecular regulation of behavior as it relates to neuroscience. Kristin Alligood Neuroscience Major, 2008 Kristin first worked with Dr. Stefan Bodnarenko in the Psychology Department focused on bipolar neuron patterning in the developing retina of Ferrets. Fostered initially through a collaboration between our labs, Kristin began working on zebrafish bipolar development. However following the unfortunate passing of Dr. Bodnarenko, Kristin stayed on in my lab focused on defining the role of Slits as repellent and potential attractant cues in the zebrafish forebrain, as well as characterizing the cellular and molecular aspects of astroglial cells in the forebrain. Her work was heroic and comprehensive, setting the foundation for the work of many students to follow in her foot steps. Kristin completed and Honors Thesis that was awarded Highest Honors by the college. She is currently employed as a research assistant under the guidance of Dr. Judith Eisen at the University of Oregon. Kristin’s future goal is to attend graduate school for her Ph.D. focused in the newly emerging field of ecology and development (Eco-Devo). Michelle Wong, SOMAS Scholar Biological Sciences Major, 2008 Michelle spent two years working in my laboratory investigating the role of Roundabout receptors 1 and 2 in forebrain commissure formation. Michelle and her work was funded by a grant from Davidson College and the NSF under the SOMAS program (Support of Mentors and their Students in Neuroscience). Michelle is currently a Doctor's assistant while pursuing medical school. Elizabeth Deschene Neuroscience Major, 2009 Elizabeth spent almost two years in my lab and competed an honor thesis project focused on determining what guidance roles Slit1a and Slit2 play during post-optic commissure formation. Elizabeth is currently enrolled in the Ph.D. program in the molecular, cellular and developmental biology track at Yale University. Sarah Krikorian Biology Major, 2009 Sarah spent nearly all four years of her undergraduate career in the Barresi Lab. Her time in the lab was split by an extra year off of college to work on an organic farm in South America. Sarah has participated in all of the projects of the lab one way or another. She spent much of her first 2 years focused on defining the role of Roundabout receptors in commissure formation, and then her last 2 years more concentrated on characterizing the role of Eg5 in neural stem cell proliferation. Sarah plans to spend 1-2 years volunteering before pursuing a graduate degree in public health. Azucena Ramos Neuroscience/Chemistry Double Major, 2009 Azucena (Susy) was an Arnold and Mabel Beckman Scholar and her honors thesis project focused on defining the roles of the Roundabout receptors during post-optic commissure formation. After graduation Susy took a position as a research associate and lab manager in Dr. Fernando Camargo’s Lab at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute working on adult stem cell biology in the mouse. Other Students who have participated in Barresi Lab research: Emma Coleman ('09), Arlene Ellis ('07), Selmanesh Nida ('07), and Caitlyn Webster ('08)