Michael Digruccio Email & Phone Number

Scientist with 18 years of experience elucidating neuronal and endocrine system function while employing an unparalleled repertoire of biochemical and biophysical methods. • Specializing in live cell bioassay development and protein interaction quantification • Productive independent researcher with excellent communication and team skills • Experience managing research projects, personnel and labs While working for Dr. Wylie Vale, director of the Salk Institute Peptide Biology Lab, I received my initial training in protein expression and purification. I also developed novel protein binding assays and intracellular second messenger accumulation assays. After moving on from the Salk institute I joined the newly established Laboratory of Dr. Chien Li at the University of Virginia Department of Pharmacology where I served as laboratory manager.As a graduate student at UVA I joined the laboratory of Dr. Slobodan Todorovic within the Department of Anesthesia. Here my work focused upon how the use of general anesthetics during brain development can permanently alter the biophysical ion channel properties neurons and brain circuits.As a postdoc at the University of California Davis in the laboratory of Dr. Mark Huising I switched to the Diabetes and pancreas islet biology fields. Projects included using electrophysiology and live imaging to determine the glucose response of newly born and transdifferentiated mammalian beta cells. After arrival in St. Louis, I joined the laboratory of Dr. Dave W. Piston. Here, in order to further hone my live cell imaging skills I sought to develop unique red fluorescent secretory vesicles labels for use in combination with GCaMP6 calcium indicators expressed in pancreatic islet cells. With an extensive backgrounds in biochemistry, electrophysiogy, live cell imaging, ion channel biophysics, neuroscience, and diabetes research I believe that I can bring unique perspectives to the projects being launched in many fields.

Listed skills include Matlab.