The scientific research interests in our department cover a wide range of topics, with special emphasis on cell biology, neurobiology, developmental biology, physiology, anatomy, biophysics, and neuroinformatics. Together, faculty and students in our department study biological process which span the continuum from single cells to the entire human body.
Faculty
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Roger Bradley, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
522 Leon Johnson Hall
(406) 994-7680
rbradley@montana.edu
Developmental Neuroscience
Our lab studies the roles of cell-cell adhesion molecules in the formation of the vertebrate nervous system. Read more
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Martha Chaverra, Ph.D.
Associate Research Professor
522 Leon Johnson Hall
(406) 994-7680
mchaverra@montana.edu
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Cassie Cusick, Ph.D.
Professor
WWAMI medical education program
508 Leon Johnson Hall
(406) 994-3993
ccusick@montana.edu
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Steven Eiger, Ph.D.
Professor
WWAMI medical education program
507 Leon Johnson Hall
(406) 994-5612
eiger@montana.edu
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Lynn George, Ph.D.
Research Professor
(406) 223-7638
lgeorge@montana.edu
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Susan Gibson, M.S.
Permanent Adjunct Instructor
WWAMI Medical Education Program
505 Leon Johnson Hall
(406) 994-3151
skgibson@montana.edu
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Charles Gray, Ph.D.
Professor
08 Lewis Hall
(406) 994-7338
cmgray@cns.montana.edu
Neurophysiology of Visual Perception and Cognition
In my laboratory, we study the neural processes that underlie visual perception and cognition. Read more
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Thom Hughes, Ph.D.
Professor
Office: 227 Cooley Lab
Lab: 129 Cooley Lab
(406) 219 1016
thughes@montana.edu
Biophysics
Our laboratory creates new, genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors to solve fundamental problems in neuroscience. Read more
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Gwen Jacobs, Ph.D.
Professor
01 Lewis Hall
(406) 994-7334
gwen@cns.montana.edu
Systems Neuroscience, Informatics and Information Technology
My research and scholarship efforts fall into 4 different areas: 1) basic neuroscience research on sensory processing, 2) basic and applied research on informatics and data sharing techniques for the neuroscience community, 3) implementation of IT-based infrastructure for the science and education communities and 4) science pedagogy. Read more
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Frances Lefcort, Ph.D.
Department Head
Professor
WWAMI Medical Education Program
Office: 225 Cooley Lab
Lab: 228 Cooley Lab
lefcort@montana.edu
(406) 994-5656
Molecular and Cellular Neural Development
Our lab is interested in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive the formation of the nervous system. Read more
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Paula Lutz, Ph.D.
Professor
506 Leon Johnson Hall
(406) 994-5328
plutz@montana.edu
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Christa Merzdorf, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
527 Leon Johnson Hall
(406) 994-5645
merzdorf@montana.edu
Developmental Neurobiology
We study molecular mechanisms that underlie patterning of the vertebrate nervous system during embryonic development. Read more
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John P. Miller, Ph.D.
Professor
2C Lewis Hall
(406) 994-7332
jpm@cns.montana.edu
Director, Center for Computational Biology
Letters and Science Distinguished Professor
Neurophysiology
My recent experimental and theoretical studies have been focused on an analysis of the "codes" with which nerve cells in sensory systems represent information about external stimuli, the neural mechanisms through which that information is processed within subsequent stages of the nervous system, and the extent to which the nervous system may have become optimized through evolution. Read more
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Dana Rashid, Ph.D.
Assistant Research Professor
520 Leon Johnson Hall
(406) 994-6525
danarashid5@gmail.com
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Rodrigo F. Salazar, Ph.D.
Assistant Research Professor
Lewis Hall 1
(406) 994-7190
Fax: (406) 994-7438
rsalazar@cns.montana.edu
Working memory and the fronto-parietal network
Understanding the neuronal dynamics underlying cognition has been my focus in neuroscience.
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Steve Stowers, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
516 Leon Johnson Hall
(406) 994-5672
sstowers@montana.edu
Genetic analysis of neural circuits
My lab studies somatosensory neural circuit organization and information processing in Drosophila using optogenetic approaches. Read more
Gateway MultiSite Vector Database
Adjunct Instructors
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Sam McColley, M.S.
Adjunct Instructor
240 Leon Johnson Hall
(406) 994-2953
samuelmccolley@gmail.com
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Scott Taylor, M.S.
Adjunct Instructor
240 Leon Johnson Hall
(406) 994-2953
scott.taylor@montana.edu
Research Associates
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Lauren Barnett
Research Associate
227 Cooley Lab
lmb9681@gmail.com
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Elena Kalinin, Ph.D.
Research Associate
529 Leon Johnson Hall
(406) 994-1663
ekalinina@montana.edu
Affiliates
Michael Babcock, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Psychology, Montana State University
Affiliate Professor, Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Montana State University
http://www.montana.edu/wwwpy/babcock/babcockgroup/index.htm
John R. Bermingham, Jr., Ph.D.
Associate Professor, McLaughlin Research Institute
Adjunct Associate Professor, Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Montana State University
http://mclaughlinresearch.org/research-scientists/faculty/john-bermingham/
Deborah Cabin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, McLaughlin Research Institute
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Montana State University
http://mclaughlinresearch.org/research-scientists/faculty/deborah-cabin/
George Carlson, Ph.D.
Director and Professor, McLaughlin Research Institute
Adjunct Professor, Cell Biology and Neuroscience. Montana State University
http://mclaughlinresearch.org/research-scientists/faculty/george-carlson/
Teresa M. Gunn, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, McLaughlin Research Institute
Adjunct Associate Professor, Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Montana State University
http://mclaughlinresearch.org/research-scientists/faculty/teresa-gunn/
John A. Mercer, Ph.D.
Professor, McLaughlin Research Institute
Adjunct Professor, Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Montana State University
http://mclaughlinresearch.org/research-scientists/faculty/john-mercer/
Emeritus
Jim McMillan, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
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Charles Paden, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
Neural plasticity and repair; Neuroendocrinology
My principle research area is the neural response to brain injury, with an emphasis on axonal sprouting in neuroendocrine systems. Read more
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Dwight Phillips, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
Anatomy and Developmental Neuropathology
Dr. Phillips retired in July 2004 and continues to work part-time teaching in some courses. Before retirement, his research focused on studies of the effects of alcohol on brain development in an animal model of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome -- with particular emphasis on myelin and glial cell development. Read more
Staff
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Cori Huttinga
Accounting Analyst
513 Leon Johnson Hall
(406) 994-5097
chuttinga@montana.edu
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Lisa Musgrave
Undergraduate Advising Coordinator
510 Leon Johnson Hall
(406) 994-5120
cellbio.msu@gmail.com
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Meagan Snodgrass, M.S.
Lab Coordinator
106 Leon Johnson Hall
(406) 994-5777
meagans@montana.edu
