Sarita Lagalwar
Professor of Neuroscience
Contact Information and Background
Email: slagalwa@skidmore.edu
Phone: 518-580-8312
Office: BTCIS 280E
EDUCATION
- Postdoctoral Associate, 2008-2012, University of Minnesota Institute for Translational Neuroscience
- Ph.D., 2000-2007, Northwestern University, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program
- B.A., 1994-1998, University of St. Thomas, Political Science and Biology/Pre-medicine
COURSES TAUGHT AT SKIDMORE
- NS101: Introduction to Neuroscience
- NS201: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
- NS314: Mapping the Cerebellum
- NS315: Mechanisms of Alzheimer’s Disease
- NS316: Neurobiology of Disease
- SSP100: Stress and the Human Brain Scribner Seminar
MOLECULAR NEURODEGENERATION RESEARCH LAB (located in the BTCIS Biomolecular Research Suite)
- Broadly, our lab is interested in cell and molecular signaling pathways in human neurodegenerative disease and uses human cell lines and mice to model disease.
- Specifically, our lab studies Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1), a genetic disease similar in many ways to Huntington’s Disease.
- Current projects include 1) characterizing the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in SCA1 cells as a potential target for therapeutics, and 2) analyzing how SCA1 progresses by focusing on novel mechanisms such as tunneling nanotubes and exosomal transport.
- Methodologies and techniques used in our lab include molecular biology, cellular biology, histology, imaging, physiology, cell culture, mice husbandry, motor behavior, drug screening and basic bioinformatics.
- In addition, students gain experience in data analysis, image composition, scientific reading, scientific presentation, scientific writing and mentorship. Many students present their work at research conferences (Society for Neuroscience, Hudson Berkshire Society for Neuroscience chapter meeting, NEURON) and publish their work as co-authors in manuscripts.
- Research can be conducted for academic credit (NS271, NS371A, NS371B, NS317C), as a senior thesis (NS375H, NS376), or during the Summer Collaborative Research period.