Pauls Lab

Mapping physical networks to functional networks
in SCN oscillation

About the Pauls Lab

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is a cluster of roughly 20,000 neurons that creates and maintains the circadian signal that acts as a master clock for the organism. The neurons in the SCN act as oscillators and the network of connections between them are key to the robustness and resilience of the circadian signal. Our work, in collaboration with Rae Silver’s lab at Barnard College, uses neurobiological data to create mathematical models of the neural function with an interest in discovering constraints on the network structure. Funding is available for both part-time and full-time positions.

Current work is supported by NSF IOS-1730508, the E.E. Just Program at Dartmouth College, the ASURE program, and Undergradaute Advising and Research at Dartmouth College.

How To Apply

Two types of positions - data analysis and modeling - are available. Students interested in data analysis should have a basic familiarity with MATLAB and linear algebra (e.g. MATH 22). Students interested in modeling should be comfortable programming in MATLAB and have completed both linear algebra (MATH 22) and differential equations (MATH 23).

Positions for Summer 2019 are filled. However, there will be both part and full time positions available in Fall, Winter, and Spring terms. To apply, look for advertisements through UGAR or apply to Professor Pauls directly with:

Faculty

Scott Pauls

Professor of Mathematics
Principle Investigator

Research Group

Austin Red Wing

Austin is a mathematics major at Pennsylvania State Univerisity and was an ASURE scholar with our group in summer 2019.

Andres Rosales

Andres is an Engineering major at Dartmouth College and was an NSF supported research fellow from winter 2019 through summer 2019.

Iain Sheerin

Iain was an NSF supported research fellow in Winter 2019.

Andrew Alini

Andrew is a double major in Mathematics and Computer Science at Dartmouth College.

Pierre Desvallon

Pierre was an E.E. Just Scholar working with the research group in Summer 2018. From fall 2018 to spring 2019, he was funded as a NSF Research Fellow.

Yanling Lei

Yanling was an E.E. Just Scholar working with the research group in Summer 2018. For Fall 2018 - Spring 2019, she was a Sophomore Science Fellow.

Graduate Students

Lizzie Tripp

Lizzie is a graduate student working in applied mathematics. She expects to graduate in Spring 2020.

Projects

Current projects include:

  • Phase analysis of SCN data from coronal, sagittal, and horizontal SCN slices.
  • Intermediate-scale modeling of neural networks within the SCN.
  • Analysis of synthetic data from model oscillator networks.