COLIN SMITH
COSMITH@MAIL.MED.UPENN.EDU
EDUCATION
June 2010 – Present (Expected Graduation 2015)
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Doctorate of Philosophy - Neuroscience
August 2005 – May 2009
Macalester College, Saint Paul, Minnesota • Bachelor of Arts
Majors: Cognitive & Neuroscience Studies • Psychology
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
January 2011 – Current
Thesis Research, Department of Neurology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, Advisor: Akiva S.
Cohen, Ph.D.
 Characterized the changes in excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission in cerebral cortex following lateral
fluid percussion brain injury in mice
o Performed live dissections to remove the intact brain
o Prepared acute brain slices
o Simultaneously recorded both inhibitory post-synaptic currents and excitatory post-synaptic currents in
layer V pyramidal cells via whole-cell patch clamp technique
o Analyzed electrophysiology data
September 2010 – December 2010
Laboratory Rotation, Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, Advisor: David Raizen,
M.D./Ph.D.
 Investigated the role of specific neuropeptides in inducing lethargus, a sleep-like behavior in C.elegans
o Developed five transgenic lines, each conditionally overexpressing a specific neuropeptide implicated in
lethargus
o Used Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and PCR-Stitching techniques to create novel gene constructs
o Imaged worms using differential interference contrast microscopy
o Conducted behavioral experiments to quantify phenotypes of transgenic lines
o Analyzed behavioral data and prepared presentation
June 2010 – September 2010
Laboratory Rotation, Department of Neurology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, Advisor: Akiva
S. Cohen, Ph.D.
 Characterized the changes in the perforant path of the dentate gyrus following lateral fluid percussion model of
brain injury in mice
o Performed live dissections to remove the intact brain
o Prepared acute brain slices
o Recorded field excitatory post-synaptic potentials in the perforant path inputs to the dentate gyrus
o Analyzed electrophysiology data and prepared presentation
August 2009 – June 2010
ORISE Intern, Research Division, Physiology and Immunology Branch, United States Army Medical Research Institute
of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD), Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, Advisor: Heidi Hoard-Fruchey, Ph.D.
 Involved with three separate projects:
o Identified changes in protein expression in hippocampus and piriform cortex of rodent subjects following
acute chemical warfare nerve agent (CWNA) exposure
 Quantified protein concentration using EZQ protein quantification
 Purified samples using 2D Gel Clean up kit
 Labeled proteins with fluorescent Cy Dyes
 Performed 2-Dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE) experiments
 Imaged using Amersham Biosciences Typhoon Trio Plus Variable Mode Imager
o
o
 Quantified cytokine levels using Luminex, a bead-based multiplex immunoassay
Investigation of molecular mechanisms of cardiopathology induced by acute CWNA exposure
 Developed a protocol for homogenization of cardiac tissue to maximize protein concentrations
 Quantified cytokine levels using Luminex, a bead-based multiplex immunoassay
 Analyzed neutrophil marker levels using multiplex ELISA assays
Determined the role of astrocytic damage/death on neuronal damage/death following CWNA exposure
 Performed tissue culture experiments with astrocyte, neuron, and neuron-astrocyte mixed and
transwell co-cultures
 Characterized CWNA-induced damage to astrocytes and neurons using lactate dehydrogenase
release assays, immunohistochemistry, traditional histochemistry, light and fluorescence
microscopy
August 2008 – November 2008
Independent Research, Department of Psychology, Cognitive & Neuroscience Studies Program, Macalester College,
Saint Paul, MN, Advisor: Eric P. Wiertelak, Ph.D.
 Investigated alternative medicines for anxiety using rodent subjects
o Conducted behavioral tests (staircase test and elevated plus-maze) in rats designed to measure subjects’
anxiety level
o Sorted and interpreted computer data
o Performed statistical analysis
o Prepared and edited manuscript detailing research
o Presented results at international and national conferences
January 2008 – May 2008
Directed Research, Department of Psychology, Cognitive & Neuroscience Studies Program, Macalester College, Saint
Paul, MN, Advisor: Eric P. Wiertelak, Ph.D.
 Investigated alternative behavioral paradigms to measure anxious behavior using rodent subjects
o Conducted staircase tests in rats, a behavioral test designed to measure subjects’ anxiety level
o Sorted and interpreted computer data
o Performed statistical analysis
o Presented results at regional conference
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
Nelson M, Smith CJ, George-Raizen J, Trojanowski N, Raizen D. (2011) Behavioral quiescence is regulated by the
FRPamide neuropeptide encoding genes nlp-22 and -23. 18th International C. elegans Meeting, Los Angeles, CA.
Hoard-Fruchey HM, Smith CJ, Johnson EA, Kan RK (2010) Seizure-Induced Cellular Proteome Modifications in the Rat
Hippocampus and Piriform Cortex. Society for Neuroscience Meeting, San Diego, CA.
Hoard-Fruchey HM, Smith CJ, Johnson EA, Kan RK (2010) Alterations of the Cellular Proteome in the Hippocampus
and Piriform Cortex Brain Regions Following Soman-Induced Seizure. U.S. Army Medical Defense Bioscience Review,
Hunt Valley, MD.
Smith CJ, Wiertelak, EP. (2008) The anxiolytic effects of Wood Betony in the rat staircase and elevated plus-maze
paradigms: Investigations and potential GABAergic mechanisms. Society for Neuroscience Meeting, Washington D.C.
Smith CJ, Wiertelak, EP. (2008) The anxiolytic effects of Wood Betony in the rat staircase and elevated plus-maze
paradigms: Investigations and potential GABAergic mechanisms. Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience Meeting,
Washington, D.C.
Smith CJ (2008) Wood Betony shows anxiolytic properties in rats in the staircase test. MidBrains: The Undergraduate
Neuroscience Conference of the Upper Midwest, Saint Paul, MN.
FUNDING
2010 – 2012
Systems and Integrative Biology Training Grant • Appointee at University of Pennsylvania
AWARDS
2009 – Present
2009 – Present
2009 – Present
2007 – Present
Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society • Member
Psi Chi: Psychology Honor Society • Member
National Football Foundation’s Hampshire Honor Society • Member
Nu Rho Psi: Neuroscience Honor Society • Member
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2008– Spring
Behavioral Neuroscience Teaching Assistant, Macalester College, Saint Paul, MN
VOLUNTEER & COMMUNITY SERVICE
2008– Summer
Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI • Volunteer
Provided support and assistance for patients and their families in the Neuroscience Center.
2007
Kids Judge: Macalester College Neuroscience Fair, Saint Paul, MN • Student Guide
2005
Kids Judge: Macalester College Neuroscience Fair, Saint Paul, MN • Presenter