Photo of Stanford student and Stanford Bio-X Undergraduate Summer Research Program Participant Sayeh Kohani.
2020 Undergraduate Summer Research Program Participant

Home Department: Biomedical Computation and Economics
Mentor: Liqun Luo, Biology

“Molecular Mechanisms of Neuronal Wiring Specificity”

Studying the mechanisms by which neurons are able to achieve wiring specificity is key to better understanding brain development. Sayeh’s research focuses on unveiling novel wiring molecules and mechanisms that contribute to the formation of precise connections between neurons. Using the fruit fly olfactory circuit as a model, Sayeh has identified several novel wiring molecules through a genetic screen. This summer, she will use single-cell RNA sequencing data and analysis techniques to further investigate the spatial and temporal dynamics of wiring-molecule expression.