Alexandra Gastone Guilabert Email and Phone Number

Computational modeling of a population of cortical neurons in Python, creating a novel statistical method for generating correlated spike trains.

As a course instructor for TechSpark Academy's Coding Club, I prepared and reviewed course modules (Scratch, Tynker, Code.org) for a small group of students in an after school coding program.

Working with Dr Prerana Shrestha at Dr Eric Klann's lab, we investigated the role of protein synthesis for memory consolidation in the amygdala with a targeted chemo-genetic approach. The project was also the topic of my Independent Study during my last year of undergraduate. Technical skills learnt during that time include advanced molecular and cellular techniques and analysis, mouse surgery in a genetically modified mouse model, and more extensive behavioural cognitive assays. Conference:- Undergraduate Research Conference, poster presentations for students having obtained the Undergraduate Research Fund (New York, NY)Publication:-"Chemogenetic evidence that rapid neuronal de novo protein synthesis is required for consolidation of long-term memory" P. Shrestha, P. Ayata, P. Herrero-Vidal, F. Longo, A. Gastone, J.E. Ledoux, N. Heintz, E. Klann. bioRxiv, 704965.

At Dr Thomas Franke's lab in the department of psychiatry, I progressed in my technical expertise of cellular and molecular techniques and genetic manipulations.

In Dr Ottavio Arancio's lab, I was trained in wet-lab techniques and mouse behavioural cognitive assays, working with transgenic mouse lines in a project to elucidate the role of SUMO in both normal neuronal physiology and in Alzheimer's disease.