Scott Templin Email & Phone Number

Greater Boston Area

Our lab is dedicated to investigating the biological underpinnings of social behaviors that occur in the absence of hormone activation. We utilize the B6D2F1 male mouse which is a common laboratory rodent that displays the rare trait of retaining sex behavior long after castration. While male B6D2F1 hybrids have been recognized as expressing gonadal steroid-independent male sex behavior (SI-MSB) since the 1960’s, at the time of starting my dissertation research, nobody had ever published on the females. With a sense of excitement, I set out to discover whether or not female B6D2F1 mice express steroid-independent lordosis as the basis for my dissertation.

Greater Boston Area

The Berde lab’s research program centers around understanding and managing pain. Post-surgical pain is typically treated with opiates which have been shown to significantly slow recovery time, among many other downsides. Coupled with existence of a great unmet need for post-surgical pain relief in less developed countries, Dr. Berde saw the need to develop a new generation of local anesthetics lasting longer than the current upper limit of 8-10 hours from a single dosing. To move towards clinical trials, Dr. Berde sought to attain Investigational New Drug status to use Neosaxitoxin (neoSTX), the most potent site-1 sodium channel blocker, as a local anesthetic. My role in the Berde lab was to conduct preclinical safety and efficacy testing of neoSTX in a small species, as required by the FDA. Using the rat sciatic nerve block model and quantitative sensory testing until recovery, I found that in combination with bupivacaine, neoSTX produces peripheral nerve blockade lasting up to 36 hours. Later I transcardially perfused and dissected these sciatic nerves for a pathologist to examine. Away from the bench, I extensively edited the Investigational New Drug application for NeoSTX as it neared completion and submission. I was also supervised by Dr. Kathryn Commons, who focuses on the pharmacology & neuroanatomy of the serotonin-producing raphe nuclei in states of depression, anxiety and stress. My primary project with Dr. Commons, resulting in an SfN poster and first author publication, utilized the Allen Brain Atlas to map the distribution of ion channel mRNA in the dorsal raphe nucleus. Another important project was characterizing the behavior of mice with a gene knockout targeting a glycine receptor subunit. Currently, Dr. Berde’s local has succeeded in attaining Investigational New Drug status and has published data from Phase 1 clinical trials using neosaxitoxin.

Greater Boston Area

Research in the Nelson Lab investigated the impact of certain genes on determination and maintenance of cell identity, such as DICER. Using GAD67-GFP, line 42 mice, my postdoc characterized acute slice physiology and filled cortical neurons with biocytin while I handled the immunohistochemistry and reconstruction. Confocal imaging was employed in order to reconstruct the filled cell and its processes, as well as conventional light microscopy for DAB stained sections. Image processing was performed in the NIH developed standard program, ImageJ.

Baltimore, Maryland Area

The Transgenic Section of the Molecular Neurobiology Branch conducts behavioral, pharmacological, biochemical, and molecular genetic experiments in transgenic mice. Work included genotyping of transgenic mice using polymerase chain reaction and gel electrophoresis and behavioral pharmacology experiments. These studies investigated the genetic substrates of drug reinforcement and other behaviors in mice that model drug addiction phenotypes in humans, and thereby contribute to our understanding of addiction that helps develop new potential treatments for addiction and related psychiatric conditions.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

My work in the Moss Lab entailed analysis of data from behavioral experiments investigating sensitivity of bat echolocation in object discrimination as well as the effect of hair removal on bat flight. High speed video captured images were analyzed using MATLAB routines written in-house to construct a three dimensional flight trajectory. This was later combined with acoustic data to generate a complete spatiotemporal map of bat movements during flight. My primary task was to map bat flight trajectory to make the rendering.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

My research in the Herberholz Lab examined the interaction of juvenile crayfish size and likelihood of eliciting the stereotypical tail flip response in response to an artificial predator created by a swinging arm passing in front of a light. Work also involved care of crayfish including sex determination, physical measurements, and feeding. The experimental setup required careful calibration of parameters such as food odor flow rate, light, stimulus properties (e.g. shadow speed), and electrophysiology equipments. Response latencies were parsed from bath electrode electrophysiological data using AxoScope to determine precise timing of electrophysiological responses with regard to behavioral events using digital video recordings.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

The laboratory for Automation Psychology and Decision Processes studies the human-machine interface. Humans and machines are becoming increasingly intertwined and one consequence of this interaction is computer rage. As one of a handful computer rage experts in the country the primary investigator, Dr. Kent Norman, has been conducting an informal survey of computer rage on his website for almost ten years. Primary responsibilities included filtering, organizing, and performing some demographic analyses within Microsoft Excel with this large set of data. Duties ranged from conducting literature searches and accessing papers for the grad students to administering psychological tests to undergraduates.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Developmental & Brain Sciences

Master Of Science - Ms, Neuroscience

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Psychology