Ada Lovelace never got a chance to see Babbage’s machine implement her programs or codes. In fact, she never even saw the proposed Turing-complete machine built, just like the rest of humanity [it took another 75 years or so to have something conceptually relevant]. Nevertheless, this gifted mathematician discussed concepts of computer science that were many decades before her time and is thus recognized as truly a wonderful standard-bearer for women in technology (and science). Like my colleague Dr. Gee, I too will offer my contribution to Ada Lovelace Day, a celebration of the many contributions to technology made past and present by women all over the world. A current database of the many blogs participating in this event is here

As I perused the above list, I found a glaring absence of neuroscientists there. Well, we can fix that quite easily, can’t we? (cont.)

Many great women being celebrated today have already passed, with a legacy still resonating as a benchmark and inspirational beacon to our young women striving to enter the cruel and brutal world of male-dominated scientific research. Although these past greats can teach all of us many a valuable lesson, there is still something so satisfying about learning of researchers currently active and excelling in the profession. One could actually visit her lab to see science in action! Email her questions! Follow her career trajectory and enjoy the ride first hand by even joining the lab! For those reasons and more, let’s talk about Cornelia Bargmann.

Cori is from Georgia and completed her undergraduate work at the University of Georgia before moving to MIT to complete her PhD on cancer signaling genes with Robert Weinberg. This strong molecular and genetic background served her well in her next endeavor, establishing C. elegans (nematodes known as “worms” in geeky sciencey circles) as a model system for the study of chemosensation. This she also did at MIT, in the lab of Bob Horvitz. After a decade of running a lab at UCSF, Cori was then persuaded by her now husband, Richard Axel, to move back to the east coast and settle in New York City. There, she runs the Laboratory of neural circuits and behavior at Rockefeller University.

So what does the Bargmann lab do? Let’s have Cori tell us:

How do animals detect and respond to a sensory stimulus? C. elegans senses hundreds of different odors, discriminates between them, and generates different behaviors in response to different odors. We can define the specific neurons that generate these behaviors, since the C. elegans nervous system consists of just 302 neurons with reproducible functions and synaptic connections. In C. elegans, as in other animals, odors are detected by G protein-coupled odorant receptors. A given sensory neuron is primarily dedicated to a single behavioral task, such as attraction or repulsion. Activation of a sensory neuron is sufficient to generate a characteristic behavior – indeed, artificial activation of a neuron can generate a completely artificial behavior to novel stimuli. We are asking how sensory signaling pathways and downstream neurons encode the flexible behavioral responses to sensory cues.

C. elegans shows unexpected sophistication in its behavior when challenged with complex stimuli that are present in the soil environment, such as pathogenic bacteria, other animals, and changes in oxygen levels. We are identifying genes and circuits for these navigation behaviors, and asking how sensory inputs regulate those circuits.

Much of the function of the nervous system is specified by its structure – the precise synaptic connections between neurons in circuits. We are studying the development of neural circuits by characterizing pathways for axon guidance, synapse formation, and neuronal differentiation. We are using genetic methods to study highly conserved signaling pathways for dorsal-ventral and anterior-posterior axon guidance. We have identified cell interactions between neurons and non-neuronal cells that direct synapses to form at precise locations during development. Finally, we have learned that signaling between neurons at the synapse can feed back onto neuronal differentiation to generate sensory diversity in the olfactory system.

In a series of genetic studies, the lab asked how sensory recognition and response are encoded by the nervous system. In 1996, the lab identified the first olfactory receptor protein for a specific odor. Subsequent studies have elucidated the mechanisms of odor discrimination, olfactory adaptation, and the matching of odor responses to behavioral outputs. Other projects in the lab have addressed mechanisms of axon guidance and synapse formation, and the genetic basis for social behavior. One interesting story involved a gene called npr-1 that determines whether worms prefer to eat alone or in social groups. Revealing the functional conservation between nematodes and humans, npr-1 is closely related to the neuropeptide Y receptor family in humans, which participates in regulating appetite and anxiety, among other things. By taking advantage of the genetic power offered by the simple nematode, Bargmann’s lab has also determined how worms can recognize and distinguish among thousands of odors in their environment.

Besides being adept at the application of cutting-edge technology to produce hot science, Cori has also mentored many students and post-docs over the years, instilling them with excellent training and a love for research. When you bump into her at a meeting, she is a complete joy to talk with, exuding enthusiasm and always eager to “talk shop” about whatever interesting scientific issue is at hand. I have always been impressed with her ability to easily glide between fields, speaking just as eloquently and insightful on sub-disciplines somewhat peripheral to her own work as she does when discussing the work conducted in her own laboratory (which makes her a damn fine reviewer). She gives a fantastic talk, with most lectures just as much a seminar on how to craft a scientific narrative as much as a discussion of odor discrimination, sensory transduction, or whatever else interesting finding her lab has made.

Women have a tough time in science. Academia is still an “Old Boys Club” that can make it rough for a women to even break in let alone thrive. It is inspiring to see someone like Cori be so successful not only with her research, but also in the areas of mentorship and scientific communication.

Cori, when asked about the secrets of scientific success, has said:

If I have one piece of advice for scientists, it would be to surround yourself with the most exciting and brilliant people you can find. I secretly think this is the one thing that has contributed most to my success.

Taking this advice to heart, I would thus strongly suggest, dear reader, that you consider the Bargmann lab when deciding upon your neuroscience future.