Harris Lab

In Pursuit of Synapse Structure and Function...

The Laboratory of Synapse Structure and Function investigates the structural basis of learning and memory, synapse development, and the ultrastructure of synaptic plasticity using in vivo and in vitro preparations, hippocampal slice physiology, serial section transmission electron microscopy, and 3D reconstruction.

Current Lab Members at UT Austin

	P.I.: Kristen M. Harris, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Neuroscience Center for Learning and Memory Institute for Neuroscience The University of Texas at Austin kharris@mail.clm.utexas.edu Kristen has served on the faculty of the Harvard Medical School, Boston University, and the Medical College of Georgia. She has been a Professor at UT Austin since 2006. More info and CV
	John Mendenhall, MA Research Associate jmenden@mail.utexas.edu John joined Kristen Harris's new lab at UT in 2006. His main responsibilities in the lab are tissue preparations, multi-dimensional imaging, visualization, and analysis.
	Guan Cao, Ph.D. Research Scientist guancao@gmail.com Guan’s current projects are to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of developmental onset of enduring long-term potentiation (LTP).
	Masaaki (Masa) Kuwajima, Ph.D. Research Associate mkuwajima@mail.clm.utexas.edu Masa uses electron microscopy and immunolabeling methods to investigate subcellular structures that underlie brain cell functions in learning and memory, normal brain development, as well as in disease models (e.g., for Fragile X syndrome). More info
	Seth Weisberg, BA, BS, MS Graduate Research Assistant sethwsrg@gmail.com Seth has been interested in neuroscience since he realized that all conscious experience and by extension the entirety of the world was predicated on the functioning of that gelatinous organ in his skull. The Harris lab at UT has the tools to see this structure at the highest possible resolution.
	Patrick Parker, BS Research Assistant patrickparker@mail.clm.utexas.edu Patrick assists in the 3D reconstruction of dendrites, with a focus on quantifying synapses and creating lab protocols. He handles a variety of administrative tasks and acts as the SynapseWeb administrator.
	Clayton Smith, MS Research Associate csmit080@gmail.com Clayton joined Dr. Harris's lab in 2016. His primary duties include tissue processing, sectioning with the ultramicrotome, and operating the electron microscope.
	Lyndsey Kirk, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow lyndskirk@gmail.com Lyndsey is currently studying the cellular mechanisms of augmentation of long term potentiation (LTP), a cellular model that represents the efficacy of spaced vs massed learning.