I am trained as a neuroscientist, but am currently focused on using qualitative and quantitative surveys to understand the field and neuroscience education more broadly.
Current Work
Career Paths in Neuroscience
I’m studying the diverse skillsets people use in their careers to ultimately inform how we train the next generation of neuroscientists. Read our pre-print for more information.
Integrating Coding into Neurobiology
Neuroscience data is rapidly growing in size and complexity. The next generation of neuroscientists need coding and quantitative skills to be able to work with these datasets. I wrote about this in a recent NeuroView and am launching various projects to better understand how we can best integrating coding into neurobiology. In addition, I’m developing teaching resources to help instructors integrate coding into their classrooms (see Teaching for more information).
Supported by the Kavli Foundation, I’m also currently working on an online textbook that will hopefully serve as a practical guide to neural data science. Get in touch if you’d like more information.
Former Work
Postdoctoral Work
As a postdoctoral fellow with Anne Churchland (CSHL), I used electrophysiology and ethological behaviors to understand multisensory circuits. In collaboration with George Bekheet, we developed a system to use and recycle Neuropixels probes in freely moving mice. In doing so, we collected a substantial amount of data from freely moving mice during a looming task — please get in touch if you’d like to collaborate. We also thought critically about how to best design rodent behavioral paradigms and leverage cutting edge technology in studies of decision-making.
Graduate Work
My doctoral research with Ed Callaway (Salk Institute) investigated cell types and circuits in the visual cortex of mice. I employed in vivo intrinsic signal imaging, two-photon calcium imaging, optogenetics, extracellular electrophysiology, and various tracing methods. My dissertation research showed that mice have visual areas that can compute complex motion, and that genetically- and hodologically-defined cell types in layer 5 of visual cortex are functionally different. In addition, I helped develop protocols to use intrinsic signal imaging to automatically draw borders between mouse visual areas. Most recently, we demonstrated the topographical organization of thalamocortical circuits.
Prior to my PhD work, I helped to identify biomarkers of stimulant addition and developed frameworks for the use of neurofeedback as a treatment for autism.
My complete CV is here.
ashley juavinett, phd 