Hughes Mentor:  David Deitcher

Department: Neurobiology and Behavior

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A Hughes Scholar’s Guide to Working in the Deitcher Lab

I have been working in Professor David Deitcher’s Lab in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior since August 2004, at the beginning of my junior year. While there was no formal course or previous research experience requirement for working in the lab, a background in biochemistry and some genetics is helpful. In the Deitcher Lab, we study the neuronal SNARE complex, a trio of proteins that are required for the process by which neurotransmitters are secreted into the synaptic cleft. While we are studying this process in Drosophila, the neural SNARE proteins are very highly conserved with respect to mammals, and thus our results allow us to better understand SNARE function in humans.

While a bulk of the Deitcher Lab work involves in vivo experiments with the genetically amendable Drosophila, I am predominantly involved in in vitro experimentation. I am looking to study different aspects of SNARE complex formation, as well as the strength of individual wild type and mutant complexes. My work has focused on cloning Drosophila SNARE protein genes into E. coli cells, allowing us to chemically control the bacterial expression of Drosophila SNARE proteins. Once purified, these bacterially expressed proteins are useful in a number of experiments. Given the nature of my work, a large portion of my time involves protein purification, SDS-PAGE gels, and agarose gels. The project has been a great opportunity to be creative and use cutting edge experimental assays, and has made me very interested in the possibility of doing research as a career.

My time in the Deitcher Lab has been extremely rewarding. Dr. Deitcher is very enthusiastic and has allowed me to get very involved in his research program, which has been fantastic. In addition to working hard, the Deitcher Lab has a lot of fun. Whether it’s a coffee break at the Gimme Coffee trailer or a Lab picnic on Cayuga Lake, the Deitcher Lab knows how to reward its hard work!