The primary goal of my research program is to understand how neurons integrate information from multiple sources to generate complex behaviors and how these interactions break down in neuropsychiatric ailments. Specifically, I am interested in how early life adversity disrupts the function of the posterior parietal cortex (PPC), a cognitive hub connecting sensory areas of the brain to higher order executive regions.

My group utilizes a two-pronged approach: in vitro, we combine multi-color optogenetics with whole cell patch clamp electrophysiology to study how cortical circuits interact at the cellular and synaptic level. We complement physiology recordings with computational modelling to generate hypotheses that we can back-test in live neurons to discover mechanistic underpinnings of stress induced circuit deficits. In vivo, we use optical methods (two-photon imaging, optogenetic circuit manipulation) to understand how neuronal activity relates to cognitive functions like decision making, learning and various forms of memory in health and disease. Combining these techniques, our goal is to gain a comprehensive understanding of how stress impacts the brain, from synaptic transmission to behavioral outcomes. We believe that by bridging organismal levels, we can gain a more robust insight into the effects of stress on the brain and as a result work towards better therapeutic interventions for stress-induced neuropsychiatric ailments.