THE MAX PLANCK FLORIDA INSTITUTE FOR NEUROSCIENCE

2021 Graduate Programs

Contact imprs@mpfi.org for any application inquiries or visit mpfi.org/graduate-programs/

Neuronal control of locomotion

Functional architecture and development of cerebral cortex

Integrative neural circuits and behavior

Neuronal signal transduction

PI: DAVID FITZPATRICK

PI: SALIL BIDAYE PI: SARAH STERN

PI: RYOHEI YASUDA

The Bidaye lab studies the neural circuit logic of locomotor decisions using the fruit-fly (Drosophila melanogaster) as a model system and a combination of techniques including behavioral assays, optogenetics, multiphoton imaging, and electrophysiology.

Research in the Fitzpatrick Lab utilizes state-of-the-art in vivo imaging techniques to probe the functional synaptic architecture of circuits in primary visual cortex.

The Stern Lab studies how learning mechanisms and diverse environmental stimuli alter innate brain circuits to drive both adaptive and maladaptive behavioral outcomes.

Neuronal mechanisms of episodic memoryPI: YINGXUE WANG

The Wang Lab integrates electrophysiological, imaging, andoptogenetic approaches with computational modeling to reveal the circuit underpinnings of the sequential neuronal activity underlying our ability to remember, think, and plan.

The Yasuda Lab is interested in the operation principles of signaling networks in dendritic spines. They have been developing techniques to image activity of various proteins in single dendritic spines using 2pFLIM in combination with new biosensors.

OUR SCIENCEResearch Groups at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience More information at mpfi.org

Neural dynamics and cognitive functionsPI: HIDEHIKO INAGAKI

PI: VIDHYA RANGARAJU

The main goal of Inagaki lab is to develop a cellular and network-level understanding of how internal states, such as internal drives and urgency, modify dynamics in the frontal cortex to influence cognitive functions.

The Rangaraju Lab is interested in how neurons with their unsurpassed morphological complexity manage their energy landscapes. We focus on the proteins that comprise and regulate mitochondria and the other energy supplies.

Disorders of neural circuit functionPI: MCLEAN BOLTON

Research in the Bolton Lab employs electrophysiological and imaging techniques to study alterations in circuit structure and function in mouse models of neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Neuroenergetics

GRADUATE PROGRAM

The International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) for Synapses and Circuits provides comprehensive Ph.D. training coupled with cutting-edge technology, resources, and collaborations with the world-renowned Max Planck Society. The IMPRS for Synapses and Circuits is a partnership between MPFI and Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and is the only IMPRS program in the United States.

• Advanced Scientific Training • International Networking and Conference Opportunities• Interdisciplinary World-class Program• Career Education and Professional Development

CONTACT

mpfi.org/graduate-programs/ or email imprs@mpfi.org

APPLICATION PERIOD*: September 01, 2021 - December 01, 2021

* You must complete the Florida Atlantic University Integrative Biology - Neuroscience (IBNS) Ph.D. program application before December 11, 2021.

Wilson, D.E.*, Scholl, B.*, and Fitzpatrick, D. (2018). Differential tuning of excitation and inhibition shapes direc-tion selectivity in ferret visual cortex. Nature 560, 97–101.

“When I was considering graduate schools, the collaborative space that was cultivated was a major factor drawing me to MPFI because I knew how much more I could learn because of it. Also my supervisor had provided an excellent training environment where I could work with experienced scientists using leading-edge techniques to address important questions”

“ I am very thankful to my supervisor for all the support and understanding during the last few years, so I could focus on my ambitious project and take care of my family at the same time. I also felt privileged to work at an institute like MPFI that supports and invests in the development of novel methods”.

Publication-inspired artwork featured on the cover of Nature Neuroscience

Wilson, D.E., Smith, G.B., Jacob, A.L., Walker, T., Dimidschstein, J., Fishell, G., and Fitzpatrick, D. (2017). GABAer-gic Neurons in Ferret Visual Cortex Participate in Functionally Specific Networks. Neuron 93, 1058–1065.

Wilson, D.E., Whitney, D.E., Scholl, B., and Fitzpatrick, D. (2016). Orientation selectivity and the functional clus-tering of synaptic inputs in primary visual cortex. Nat Neurosci . 19, 1003-1009.

Scholl, B., Wilson, D.E., and Fitzpatrick, D. (2017). Local Order within Global Disorder: Synaptic Architecture of Visual Space. Neuron 96, 1127-1138.

Scholl, B., Wilson, D.E., Jaepel, J., and Fitzpatrick, D. (2019). Functional Logic of Layer 2/3 Inhibitory Connectivity in the Ferret Visual Cortex. Neuron 104, 451-457.e3.

Kamasawa, N., Sun, Y., Mikuni, T., Guerrero-Given, D., and Yasuda, R. (2015). Correlative Ultrastructural Analysis of Functionally Modulated Synapses Using Automatic Tape-Collecting Ultramicrotome - SEM Array Tomography. Microscopy and Microanalysis 21, 1271–1272.

Mikuni, T., Nishiyama, J., Sun, Y., Kamasawa, N., and Yasuda, R. (2016). High-Throughput, High-Resolution Mapping of Protein Localization in Mammalian Brain by In Vivo Genome Editing. Cell.165, 1803–1817.

Sun Y., Thomas C., Mikuni T., Guerrero-Given D., Yasuda R., Kamasawa N. (2020) Correlative Ultrastructural Analysis of Functionally Modulated Synapses Using Automated Tape-Collecting Ultramicrotome and SEM Array Tomography. In: Wacker I., Hummel E., Burgold S., Schröder R. (eds) Volume Microscopy. Neuromethods, vol 155. Humana, New York, NY.

STARTING DATE: August 2022

Ye Sun, Ph.D., IMPRS Program AlumnaCurrently Staff Scientist at NHLBI, NIH

Daniel Wilson, Ph.D., IMPRS Program AlumnusCurrently Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard Medical School

IMPRS for Synapses and CircuitsInternational Max Planck Research School

Sun, Y., Smirnov, M., Kamasawa, N., Yasuda, R. (2021). Rapid Ultrastructural Changes in the PSD and Surrounding Membrane after induction of structural LTP in Single Dendritic Spines. Journal of Neuroscience 41, 33, 7003-7014.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONSauthored by MPFI Ph.D. Students

Scholl, B., Wilson, D.E., Jaepel, J., and Fitzpatrick, D. (2019). Functional Logic of Layer 2/3 Inhibitory Connectivi-ty in the Ferret Visual Cortex. Neuron 104, 451-457.e3.

Wilson, D.E.*, Scholl, B.*, and Fitzpatrick, D. (2018). Differential tuning of excitation and inhibition shapes direction selectivity in ferret visual cortex. Nature 560, 97–101.

Wilson, D.E., Smith, G.B., Jacob, A.L., Walker, T., Dimidschstein, J., Fishell, G., and Fitzpatrick, D. (2017). GABAer-gic Neurons in Ferret Visual Cortex Participate in Functionally Specific Networks. Neuron 93, 1058–1065.

Scholl, B., Wilson, D.E., and Fitzpatrick, D. (2017). Local Order within Global Disorder: Synaptic Architecture of Visual Space. Neuron 96, 1127-1138.

Wilson, D.E., Whitney, D.E., Scholl, B., and Fitzpatrick, D. (2016). Orientation selectivity and the functional clustering of synaptic inputs in primary visual cortex. Nat Neurosci . 19, 1003-1009.

Mikuni, T., Nishiyama, J., Sun, Y., Kamasawa, N., and Yasuda, R. (2016). High-Throughput, High-Resolution Mapping of Protein Localization in Mammalian Brain by In Vivo Genome Editing. Cell.165, 1803–1817.

Chang, J.-Y., Nakahata, Y., Hayano, Y., and Yasuda, R. (2019). Mechanisms of Ca²+/calmodulin-depen-dent kinase II activation in single dendritic spines. Nature Communications 10, 2784.

Chang, J.-Y., Parra-Bueno, P., Laviv, T., Szatmari, E.M., Lee, S.-J.R., and Yasuda, R. (2017). CaMKII Autophosphor-ylation Is Necessary for Optimal Integration of Ca2+ Signals during LTP Induction, but Not Maintenance. Neuron 94, 800–808.e4.

Montesinos, M.S., Dong, W., Goff, K., Das, B., Guerrero-Given, D., Schmalzigaug, R., Premont, R.T., Satterfield, R., Kamasawa, N., and Young, S.M., Jr. (2015). Presynaptic Deletion of GIT Proteins Results in Increased Synaptic Strength at a Mammalian Central Synapse. Neuron 88, 918–925.

Lee, K-S., Huang, X., Fitzpatrick, D. (2016). Topology of ON and OFF inputs in visual cortex enables an invariant columnar architecture. Nature. 533, 90–94.

Lee, D., Creed, M., Jung, K., Stefanelli, T., Wendler, D.J., Oh, W.C., Mignocchi, N.L., Lüscher, C., and Kwon, H.-B. (2017). Temporally precise labeling and control of neuromodulatory circuits in the mam-malian brain. Nat Meth, 14, 495-503.

M.A., Rowan*, Bonnan, A.*, Zhang, K.*, Amat, S.B., Kikuchi, C., Taniguchi, H., Augustine, J.G., and Christie, J.M. (2018). Graded Control of Climbing-Fiber-Mediated Plasticity and Learning by Inhibition in the Cerebellum. Neuron, 99, 999-1015.e6.

Tu, X., Yasuda, R., and Colgan, L.A. (2020). Rac1 is a downstream effector of PKCa in structural synaptic plasticity. Scientific Reports 10, 1–9.

Lee, K.-S., Vandemark, K., Mezey, D., Shultz, N., and Fitzpatrick, D. (2019). Functional Synaptic Architecture of Callosal Inputs in Mouse Primary Visual Cortex. Neuron 101, 421-428.E5.

Sun, Y., Smirnov, M., Kamasawa, N., Yasuda, R. (2021). Rapid Ultrastructural Changes in the PSD and Surround-ing Membrane after induction of structural LTP in Single Dendritic Spines. Journal of Neuroscience 41, 33, 7003-7014.

Living in Palm Beach County47 miles of coastline78 degrees average year-round temperature200+ performing arts organizations and museums31,000 acres of nature preserves250+ miles of biking and hiking trails

10/1110/11

SCIENTIFIC DIRECTORS: David Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.

Ryohei Yasuda, Ph.D.

SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD:Ann Graybiel, Ph.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Michael Hausser, Ph.D. University College London

Anthony Movshon, Ph.D. New York University

Elly Nedivi, Ph.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Bernardo Sabatini, M.D., Ph.D. Harvard Medical School

Carla Shatz, Ph.D. Stanford University

Gary Westbrook, M.D. Vollum Institute, OHSU

FACILITIES AND CAMPUS: MPFI’s 100,000-square-foot research facility is built on six acres of land at Florida Atlantic University’s (FAU) John D. MacArthur Cam-pus. This new, LEED Gold state-of-the-art building includes 58,000 square feet of laboratory space, wet and dry bench re-search, instrumentation labs, computational research, core imaging facilities, microscope suites and information technology services.

On-site Core Facilities:• Electron Microscopy• STED Microscopy• Light Microscopy and Optical Imaging • Mechanical Workshop• Molecular Biology

JUPITER NEUROSCIENCE COMMUNITY: The Jupiter Neuroscience Community is a collaboration among neuroscientists from Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Florida Atlantic University, and the Scripps Research Institute, Florida, with an extended network of research excellence in neighboring institutions in Palm Beach County and throughout Florida. The collaborative exchange of scientific ideas between faculty, postdocs and students benefits from a broad range of seminar series, symposia, poster sessions and networking events.

MPMPNeuro

MaxPlanckNeuroscience.org

BRAIN DISORDERS AND INJURY COGNITION DEVELOPMENT

INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR MOTIVATION AND EMOTION

MOTOR SYSTEMS NEURAL EXCITABILITY, SYNAPSES, AND GLIA

SENSORY SYSTEMS TECHNIQUES

The Max Planck Society brings together hundreds of neuroscience researchers, equipping them with the best tools and resources to explore some of the most complex issues facing all facets of brain science.

This collective knowledge and expertise promotes creative, interdisciplinary approaches, allowing Max Planck scientists to make significant advances in the field and develop innovative technologies and techniques to advance neuroscience research across the globe.

Come see and share the future of neuroscience at

Max Planck Florida’sMax Planck Florida’s NeurotransmissionsNeurotransmissions PodcastPodcast Neuroscience stories from the Neuroscience stories from the lab and lifelab and lifeListen at: neuropodcast.org