Michael Frederick Wells

16 Elmer St. #201 • Cambridge, MA 02138 • 614.558.1870 • mfwells5@mit.edu

Summary Neurobiologist experienced in an extensive range of techniques relevant to the study of disease mechanisms

underlying psychiatric disorders. Driven to master the innovative methods and strategies necessary to achieve the long-term goal of developing novel therapeutics.

Education 2010 – Present Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences—Cambridge, MA

Visiting Scholar in the McGovern Institute, Laboratory of Dr. Guoping Feng 2008 – Present Duke University, Department of Neurobiology—Durham, NC Ph.D. Candidate in Neurobiology (Expected Defense Date: March 2015), Laboratory of Dr. Guoping Feng Thesis Topics: Synaptic formation, cortical circuit development, mouse models of psychiatric disease Coursework: Concepts in Neuroscience, Sensory Signal Transduction, Microscopy (Cumulative GPA: 3.94/4.00) 2004 – 2008 University of Notre Dame, College of Science—Notre Dame, IN

B.S. in Biological Sciences, Cum Laude

Coursework: Genetics, Biochemistry, Physiological Psychology (Cumulative GPA: 3.74/4.00)

Research 2008 – Present Laboratory of Dr. Guoping Feng, MIT Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences—Cambridge, MA

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Predoctoral Fellow (2012-2015) • Contributed to Nature article within 6 months of joining lab by identifying synaptic defects in the cortico-striatal pathway of Shank3B knockout mice, a novel animal model of autism • Generated and characterized novel conditional Shank3B knockout mouse that is currently being used by lab members to create cell-type specific Shank3B deletions • Generated and characterized novel Ptchd1 conditional knockout mouse and discovered cognitive impairments comparable to those found in humans with PTCHD1 mutations (manuscript submitted) • Developed and performed novel mouse distractibility task as a member of a 3 person team • Created Ptchd1-YFP mouse to study cell-type specificity of Ptchd1 expression and discovered unique localization to the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN)

• Orchestrated collaboration with laboratories of Dr. Michael Halassa (NYU) and Dr. John Vincent (Univ. of Toronto) • Identified thalamo-cortical pathway dysfunction in Ptchd1 knockout mice with members of the Halassa lab

• Organized and maintained an animal colony that ranged from 500-1000 mice at any given time • Contributed to the procurement of a 3-year, $750,000 SFARI Research Award for Dr. Feng & Dr. Halassa labs

2007 Laboratory of Dr. Emmanuel Pothos, Tufts University Sackler School of Biomedical Science—Boston, MA

Sackler Summer Scholar • Investigated dietary obesity in rats by measuring dopamine levels in adrenal chromaffin cells and brain

• Techniques: Adrenal chromaffin cell culture, in vivo dialysis, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) 2006 Laboratory of Dr. Virginia Seybold, University of Minnesota Department of Neuroscience—Minneapolis, MN Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program (LSSURP) Scholar

• Examined novel pathways of morphine activation in rats to develop next generation analgesics • Techniques: Radioactive phosphoinositol (PI3) assay, primary rat dorsal root ganglia culture

Relevant Skills

DNA/RNA/Protein: Targeted genetic manipulation of cultured mouse embryonic stem cells, molecular cloning, genotyping PCR, RT-PCR, qPCR, in situ hybridization, RNA isolation/purification, SDS-PAGE/Western blot,

immunohistochemistry

Cell culture: R1 mouse embryonic stem cells, primary hippocampal neurons, stable transfection of primary neurons and HEK293 cells, in vitro and ex vivo Fura-2AM calcium imaging

Animal behavior: Neurological function (acoustic startle, pre-pulse inhibition, rotarod, hanging wire, gait analysis), aggression (resident-intruder task), anxiety (open field arena, elevated zero maze, grooming analysis), social interaction, cognition (Morris water maze, fear conditioning, inhibitory avoidance, distractibility task)

Software: Noldus EthoVision, Noldus Observer, Vector NTI, Adobe Illustrator, ImageJ, MetaMorph, GraphPad

Grants & Awards

2012 – 2015 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award for Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (funds 3 years, valued at $96,000)

2013 Koch Institute Image Award (10 awarded annually based on artistic merit of scientific images) 2012 Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship (60 awarded annually across several disciplines, funds 3 years, valued at

$72,000). Award not accepted. 2008 – 2012 Duke Endowment Fellowship, Duke University (Stipend supplement, funds 4 years, valued at $20,000) 2011 Travel Award, Phelan-McDermid Syndrome International Consortium (1 awarded annually, valued at $1000)

Publications

Peca J, Feliciano C, Ting J, Wang W, Wells M, Fu Z, Feng G. “Shank3 mutant mice display autistic-like behaviors and postsynaptic dysfunction.” Nature 472: 437-442, 2011 April 28.

Wells M, Wimmer R, Schmitt I, Feng G, Halassa M. “PTCHD1, a neurodevelopmental disorder gene, impacts

thalamic reticular function in attention and cognition.” Submitted to Nature, 2014 November 9.

Posters & Presentations 2014 Wells M, Wimmer R, Schmitt L, Feng G, Halassa M. “Cognitive defects and thalamic reticular nucleus dysfunction in

Ptchd1 knockout mouse.” Poster presented at the 3rd

Annual Simons Center Poster Session, Cambridge, MA. 2012 Wells M. “The potential role of sonic hedgehog signaling in autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disability.”

Presentation given at the Simons Center Lunch Series, Cambridge, MA. 2011 Wells M, Peca J, Feliciano C, Ting J, Wang W, Fu Z, Feng G. “Shank3 mutant mice display autistic-like behaviors

and striatal dysfunction.” Poster presented at the McGovern Institute Scientific Advisory Board Meeting, Cambridge, MA.

2010 Wells M. “Shank3 as a mouse model of autism-spectrum disorder.” Presentation given at the MIT Brain & Cognitive

Sciences Brain Lunch Series, Cambridge, MA. 2007 Wells M, Pothos E, Geiger B, Frank L, Caldera-Siu, A. “Dietary obesity is linked to central and peripheral

catecholamine deficits.” Poster presented at the Tufts University Summer Symposium, Boston, MA. 2006 Wells M & Seybold, V. “Morphine activation of phospholipase C in dorsal root ganglia neurons.” Poster presented at

the University of Minnesota LSSURP Symposium, Minneapolis, MN.

Teaching & Outreach 2013 – Present TTT Mentor Program—Cambridge, MA

Project mentor • Supervise the development and execution of grade school science fair projects (6-8 students per year) • Master of Ceremonies for annual poster presentation televised on CCTV 2013 – Present Autism Speaks—Boston, MA Volunteer and Early Access to Care Intern

• Oversee Science Communication table at various Autism Speaks events • Developed Early Access to Care (EAC) Field Manual for Autism Speaks staff

2013 – 2014 MIT Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences—Cambridge, MA Teaching Assistant for 9.00 Introduction to Psychological Science • Lectured undergraduate discussion classes of 20 students each for 2 semesters and graded exams/papers 2009 – 2010 Building Opportunities and Overtures in Science and Technology (BOOST)—Durham, NC Science Mentor • Coached 2 grade school children as part of a year-long science project 2009 Duke University Department of Neurobiology—Durham, NC Teaching Assistant for Concepts in Neurobiology • Graded weekly essays and exams for graduate level course

Leadership

2013 – Present MIT Science Policy Initiative (SPI) Executive Committee Member and Discussion Series Chair

• Organize and facilitate group discussions during monthly dinner meeting • Led and participated in meetings with members of U.S. Congress during Congressional Visit Day (March 2014)

References Guoping Feng, PhD Michael Halassa, MD, PhD Ram Puranam, PhD Poitras Professor of Neuroscience Asst. Professor Asst. Professor Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences Department of Psychiatry Department of Neurology Massachusetts Institute of Technology NYU, Langone Medical Center Duke University Medical Center 43 Vassar Street 522 First Avenue, Room 510 401 Bryan Research Building Cambridge, MA 02139 New York, NY 10016 Durham, NC 27710 (617) 715-4898 (646) 501-4524 (919) 684-4241 fengg@MIT.edu michael.halassa@nyumc.org puranam@neuro.duke.edu