Neuroscience Talk Wins 2nd Place Prize at 3MT Event

By Dirk Hoffman

The competition asks doctoral students to effectively explain their research in three minutes using language tailored to a non-specialist audience.

It is open to currently enrolled UB doctoral students actively engaged in dissertation research who have been admitted to candidacy.

Schwarz’s presentation at the March 7 event was titled “When Your Brain’s Game of Telephone Goes Wrong (and How to Reconnect the Line).”

The North Caldwell, New Jersey, native is a member of the lab of Gabriela K. Popescu, PhD, professor of biochemistry.

Schwarz says her research revolves around proteins called NMDA receptors, which are extremely important in keeping the brain healthy.

“Sometimes, genetic mutations cause these receptors to malfunction, which can result in disease states. In the lab, I express these disease-related mutations both in cells and in mouse brains, and I record their activity to try and determine what is happening to cause the receptors to malfunction,” she says. “I also employ drugs to see if I can rescue mutant receptor activity and get the brain cells to communicate in a better way.”

Many children suffer from the disorders caused by genetic mutations in NMDA receptors, since these proteins are essential for the standard development of the brain and spinal cord, Schwarz says.

“These children experience symptoms that include epileptic seizures, intellectual disabilities, and movement disorders,” she says. “The drugs I test in the lab may hold great promise for these patients because they have shown to boost mutant receptor activity.”

“Though these drugs are still experimental and cannot be prescribed to patients yet, they offer us an encouraging first step in finding these children more viable treatment options.”

Schwarz says she enjoys working in Popescu’s lab because of the research techniques it uses and the people who make up the lab.

“We use a technique called patch clamp electrophysiology, which is very cool because I get to see life happen right before my eyes,” she says. "I get to watch neurons fire action potentials and single-molecule receptors open and close in real time, which will never cease to amaze me.”

Her labmates promote a friendly, collaborative, and helpful environment and Popescu’s mentorship style has fostered a great deal of independence, Schwarz says.

Schwarz hopes to work in the pharmaceutical industry and use her skills to assist in the development of drugs that treat neurodegenerative and age-related neurological disorders.

“I have a specific interest in combating Alzheimer’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, two disorders in which NMDA receptors are implicated and by which I have had personal associations,” she says.

Schwarz feels grateful to have received the 3MT award, “mostly because of all the people who supported me throughout this process.”

“I’m especially thankful to my family members, friends, and labmates who listened to my thesis pitch countless times and gave me all their feedback.”

“I felt pride in my accomplishments because I got to reflect on all of the progress I have made,” Schwarz says. “I’m proud that I have come this far in my research journey, and that I can convey my scientific knowledge to wider audiences so that they may also share my love of neuroscience.”

Developed by the University of Queensland, the Three Minute Thesis competition celebrates the exciting research conducted by doctoral students by cultivating students’ academic, presentation and research communication skills.

UB’s 3MT competition was sponsored by the UB Graduate School and the Startup and Innovation Collabatory (CoLab) powered by Blackstone LaunchPad, a campus-based entrepreneurship program open to students of all majors, experiences and disciplines.