Congratulations to Tan-Yang Center members Jessica Osterhout Ph.D., and Seungwon (Sebastian) Choi Ph.D., on launching their own labs!
Prior to starting their labs, Dr. Osterhout, a Y. Eva Tan Fellow in Dr. Catherine Dulac’s lab, and Dr. Choi, a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. David Ginty’s lab, made significant contributions to the autism work of our center.
Drs. Osterhout and Choi have a passion for mentoring upcoming young scientists and collaborative science; we are excited to celebrate their success!
Jessica Osterhout Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Neurobiology at the University of Utah School of Medicine
In her postdoctoral work, Dr. Osterhout sought to understand the link between sickness symptoms and social cognition. In her lab, Dr. Osterhout will concentrate on exploring how neural circuity contributes to the regulation of an immune response. What is the impact of early infection on brain development and behavior? How does a sexually dimorphic immune response differ between males and females to alter patterns of behavior? Dr. Osterhout and her lab will seek to identify precise populations of cells and circuits with direct roles in sickness and related behaviors.
Learn more about her lab here.
Seungwon (Sebastian) Choi, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Dr. Choi’s lab will focus on understanding how internal states and pathological conditions shape an individual's perception of touch and pain. How is a sensory stimulus, such as a gentle touch, perceived as comforting to some, yet painful or distressing to others? Dr. Choi and his lab will investigate how signals from the peripheral nervous system are functionally organized and conveyed through ascending somatosensory circuitry to inform behavioral responses. Through his research, Dr. Choi hopes to contribute to the development of therapeutics for disorders with somatosensory system dysfunction.
Learn more about his lab here.