Mark J. Schnitzer, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of biological sciences and applied physics at Stanford University. He received a Ph.D. in physics from Princeton University in 1999. Schnitzer's goal is to understand the large-scale dynamics of neural circuits. Toward this end, his lab has invented a number of minimally invasive brain-imaging techniques based on fiber-optics and has been investigating mammalian neural circuits underlying locomotor coordination using a multidisciplinary approach that combines imaging, behavioral, anatomical, and computational studies. With his Pioneer Award, Schnitzer is pursuing an understanding of neural dynamics in the fruit fly, with a focus on neural circuits involved in sensorimotor decision-making. His multidisciplinary approach makes use of new technology for automated, laser-based tissue dissection and brain imaging in large numbers of flies, allowing him to perform innovative analyses of the biological basis for decision-making. Schnitzer's honors include fellowships from the Beckman, Klingenstein, Sloan, and Packard foundations and a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Office of The Director, National Institutes of Health (OD)
Type
NIH Director’s Pioneer Award (NDPA) (DP1)
Project #
1DP1OD003560-01
Application #
7341396
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZGM1-NDPA-G (P2))
Program Officer
Jones, Warren
Project Start
2007-09-30
Project End
2012-07-31
Budget Start
2007-09-30
Budget End
2008-07-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$790,000
Indirect Cost
Name
Stanford University
Department
Physics
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
009214214
City
Stanford
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94305
Savall, Joan; Ho, Eric Tatt Wei; Huang, Cheng et al. (2015) Dexterous robotic manipulation of alert adult Drosophila for high-content experimentation. Nat Methods 12:657-660
Gong, Yiyang; Huang, Cheng; Li, Jin Zhong et al. (2015) High-speed recording of neural spikes in awake mice and flies with a fluorescent voltage sensor. Science 350:1361-6
Gong, Yiyang (2015) The evolving capabilities of rhodopsin-based genetically encoded voltage indicators. Curr Opin Chem Biol 27:84-9
Gong, Yiyang; Wagner, Mark J; Zhong Li, Jin et al. (2014) Imaging neural spiking in brain tissue using FRET-opsin protein voltage sensors. Nat Commun 5:3674
Chen, Jerry L; Andermann, Mark L; Keck, Tara et al. (2013) Imaging neuronal populations in behaving rodents: paradigms for studying neural circuits underlying behavior in the mammalian cortex. J Neurosci 33:17631-40
Deisseroth, Karl; Schnitzer, Mark J (2013) Engineering approaches to illuminating brain structure and dynamics. Neuron 80:568-77
Ziv, Yaniv; Burns, Laurie D; Cocker, Eric D et al. (2013) Long-term dynamics of CA1 hippocampal place codes. Nat Neurosci 16:264-6
Fitzgerald, James E; Lu, Ju; Schnitzer, Mark J (2012) Estimation theoretic measure of resolution for stochastic localization microscopy. Phys Rev Lett 109:048102
Fitzgerald, James E; Katsov, Alexander Y; Clandinin, Thomas R et al. (2011) Symmetries in stimulus statistics shape the form of visual motion estimators. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 108:12909-14
Wilt, Brian A; Burns, Laurie D; Wei Ho, Eric Tatt et al. (2009) Advances in light microscopy for neuroscience. Annu Rev Neurosci 32:435-506