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Dr. Nadja Spitzer
Post-doctoral Associate, Biological Sciences
Education
B.S. (Biochemistry), University of Victoria, Canada
Ph.D. (Biology), Georgia State University
Research
Dr. Spitzer’s research interests include: the development
of cell therapies for disorders of the nervous system, identification
and control of molecular signaling mechanisms governing cell
differentiation, molecular neurophysiology, and cellular mechanisms
underlying complex behaviors. Currently, Dr. Spitzer works in Dr.
Elmer Price’s lab developing a novel type of adult-derived stem cell
to potentially apply to neurobiological disorder therapies. Her main
goal is to produce relatively pure cultures of motor neurons and
oligodendrocytes for spinal cord injury treatments, or dopaminergic
neurons to address Parkinson’s disease.
Teaching
Dr. Spitzer has taught Human Physiology and Human
Anatomy for the Department of Biological Sciences at Marshall,
and will teach Principles of Cell Biology over the summer.
In addition, she has given numerous guest lectures
both at MU and Georgia State University.
Background
Dr. Spitzer spearheaded the recent Brain Expo, held
in April 2009, at the Marshall University Memorial Student
Center. The MU Brain Expo was part of the larger International
Brain Awareness Campaign founded by the Dana Alliance for
Brain Initiatives. Children and adults were introduced to
various brain and nervous system functions by visiting several
learning stations. More than 90 volunteers staffed the stations,
and at least 200 students, parents, and community members attended.
The overall goal of the Brain Expo was to expose children and the community
to science in a fun, interactive way, and to create a more science literate
population. For more information, visit:
http://www.marshall.edu/baw/.
Prior to coming to her arrival at MU, Dr. Spitzer co-directed
the Institute on Neuroscience at Georgia State University.
In this role, she designed and taught intensive Neuroscience programs
to prepare advanced high school students for laboratory internships.
She also served as a Post-doctoral Associate in the lab of Dr. Donald
Edwards at Georgia State University. While at GSU, Dr. Spitzer’s
research involved electrophysiological analysis of serotonin receptor
function in crayfish nerve cords.
Dr. Spitzer is a member of the Society for
Neuroscience.
Contact Info
Telephone: (304) 696-3778
Email:
spitzern@marshall.edu
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