My research centers on differentiation and neurogenesis in the avian olfactory system.  I focus on three main areas of research:

• The physiology of olfactory neurons
• In vitro growth and differentiation of structural and functional properties of olfactory cells
• Oxidative stress and its effects on different cellular processes
  

The development of the nervous system is a topic that is of great interest to researchers. When a neuron dies or is damaged, the nervous system can repair itself by growing new neurons from undifferentiated cells. This (re)generation of neurons is a multi-stage process, and involves several different growth factors that trigger nerve cell growth.

The olfactory system is known for its ability to regenerate throughout the adult lifespan: olfactory neurons die on a routine basis, and the neurons are continuously replaced by cells that differentiate from non-neuronal precursors.  I study this process in the embryonic chick for a number of reasons:

• the developmental timeline is easy to control
• there is little known about bird olfaction
• it is cost-effective, and requires minimal lab resources
  
• it is practical for use by undergraduate students