The Neuroscience program at Carleton has active research programs with faculty in Neuroscience and Neuroscience-related fields. These research programs involve student mentorship and original research projects during the academic year and summer. Below includes information regarding on-campus research opportunities with Carleton faculty in Neuroscience or Neuroscience-related fields primarily found within the Biology and Psychology departments.
Research during the Academic Year
During academic terms, research students working with faculty receive academic credit. Once a student applies and is accepted into a faculty member’s research group,they may enroll in BIOL 294/394 (Directed Research in Biology), PSYC 294/394 (Directed Research in Psychology), or NEUR294/394 (Directed Research in Neuroscience) depending on the overarching department or program in which the laboratory resides.
How to apply to do research with Neuroscience or Neuroscience-related faculty?
As the number of available research positions with Neuroscience and Neuroscience-related faculty is limited, we also encourage students to apply for other research opportunities. We invite you to visit the Math and Science at Carleton research opportunities page to learn more about research and fellowship opportunities. Additionally, we encourage you to visit the Neuroscience Program REU page and the Biology Department REU & Internship page in order to find resources related to summer undergraduate research opportunities in Neuroscience and Neuroscience-related fields.
Current Student Research Positions
Flores-Montoya Lab
Are you interested in better understanding biological and neuroimmune factors underlying neurotoxicity and behavior? The Neuroimmunology and Neurotoxicology Laboratory, led by Gisel Flores-Montoya, uses mouse models to study neuroimmune factors associated with decreased neurocognition as a result of exposure to low-levels of lead during early development. Currently, the lab is testing the potential effectiveness of a natural and cost-effective intervention for mitigating the lead-induced effects on neuroimmunity and behavior in mice.
In the laboratory, students will become familiar with literature on chronic low-level lead exposure (in child and mouse studies), neuroimmune factors influencing neurocognition, and mouse behavioral testing. Students will learn to design and conduct studies, share their findings in poster presentations at conferences, and may participate in writing manuscripts for publication.
Students who do research in the lab must be comfortable handling and working with mice and be willing to avoid using scents such as perfume, cologne, deodorant, or strong-scented hair products because those can interfere with mouse behavior. Additionally, you should be willing to do the following:
- Commit to two to three terms in the lab
- Register for 2-3 credits for PSYC 300
- Attend lab meeting during the 2-3c time slot (T and Th from 10:10-11:55) for Spring term 2023
- Willing to work 8-10 hours per week (this includes lab meeting time) on research-related tasks
If you would like to join the lab please complete the neuroimmunology and neurotoxicology lab application form to apply to join the team. If you have questions please email Gisel Flores-Montoya.
Hoopfer Lab
There are currently no openings in the lab because Eric Hoopfer is on leave Fall ’24 and Winter ’25. Please check back in Spring ’25. Lab research is aimed at understanding the genetic and neuronal basis of behaviors like aggression and courtship. The research project will involve using genetic tools, behavior assays, and confocal microscopy to identify neurons in male flies that produce aggressive behavior. Find out more about research in the lab.