Welcome!

For animals who live in an unpredictable world, the ability to process and remember their sensory environment accurately is crucial for survival. Our lab focuses broadly on how such sensory representations form (learning) and persist (memory).

Our group is dedicated to undergraduate-driven neuroscience research. We pair behavioural studies with neuropharmacology and techniques in molecular biology to study the molecular mechanisms of olfactory memory.

The TONG RESEARCH GROUP  is at Earlham College in Richmond, IN, USA.

News/Updates:

Neuroscientists relaxing after a long day in the lab. Secondary antibodies are on and all slides have been mounted. Imaging to come this week. Wish us luck! #STEMatSLAC #UndergradResearch #WorkHardPlayHard
Neuroscientists relaxing after a long day in the lab. Secondary antibodies are on and all slides have been mounted. Imaging to come this week. Wish us luck! #STEMatSLAC #UndergradResearch #WorkHardPlayHard
I’m still amazed by recombinase tech and the way its changed neuroscience. We’re using the FosTRAP transgenic mouse strain. When tamoxifen is injected, these mice begin to transcribe a fluorescent protein wherever cfos is expressed for a short window. Cfos is thought to be transcribed in response to learning. This means that we can capture the neuronal ensembles active during experiences within a short time window. So cool that we can do this!! #MethodsGeek
I’m still amazed by recombinase tech and the way its changed neuroscience. We’re using the FosTRAP transgenic mouse strain. When tamoxifen is injected, these mice begin to transcribe a fluorescent protein wherever cfos is expressed for a short window. Cfos is thought to be transcribed in response to learning. This means that we can capture the neuronal ensembles active during experiences within a short time window. So cool that we can do this!! #MethodsGeek
Shoutout to Dr. Francesco Cavarretta for joining our lab meeting today. Francesco talked to us about biophysical modelling, and shared some of his latest work showing that simulations with multiple biophysically accurate neurons can actually provide insights into network connectivity. Thanks for these insights!
Shoutout to Dr. Francesco Cavarretta for joining our lab meeting today. Francesco talked to us about biophysical modelling, and shared some of his latest work showing that simulations with multiple biophysically accurate neurons can actually provide insights into network connectivity. Thanks for these insights!
Fancy deionized water dispenser! We use this water to mix the buffers that we use for immunofluorescent labeling. Deionized water is closer to a pH of 7, so we have more control over the pH of our buffers. This is critical since the antibody reactions rely on the right chemical environment. #STEMatSLAC #UndergradResearch #FancyScience
Fancy deionized water dispenser! We use this water to mix the buffers that we use for immunofluorescent labeling. Deionized water is closer to a pH of 7, so we have more control over the pH of our buffers. This is critical since the antibody reactions rely on the right chemical environment. #STEMatSLAC #UndergradResearch #FancyScience
Scientists on the weekend. Picking strawberries and enjoying non-dark, non-basements. #STEMatSLAC
Scientists on the weekend. Picking strawberries and enjoying non-dark, non-basements. #STEMatSLAC
Wondering about our project? Our lab is interested in non-cellular mechanisms of long-term memory. This summer, we’re characterizing expression of perineuronal nets (PNNs, in red) around cells (in blue) in the olfactory bulb and the piriform cortex after olfactory learning. Once we understand the distribution of PNNs in these regions, we can begin the dissect the neural circuits involved in the learning. Are PNNs selectively expressed around learning-involved neurons? Are they inhibitory or excitatory? Who connects to them and who do they connect to? These answers will clue us into what PNNs are doing in LTM and how they affect memory circuits. Image from a PBS article “unlocking the brain’s deepest secrets.” #UndergradResearch #STEMatSLAC
Wondering about our project? Our lab is interested in non-cellular mechanisms of long-term memory. This summer, we’re characterizing expression of perineuronal nets (PNNs, in red) around cells (in blue) in the olfactory bulb and the piriform cortex after olfactory learning. Once we understand the distribution of PNNs in these regions, we can begin the dissect the neural circuits involved in the learning. Are PNNs selectively expressed around learning-involved neurons? Are they inhibitory or excitatory? Who connects to them and who do they connect to? These answers will clue us into what PNNs are doing in LTM and how they affect memory circuits. Image from a PBS article “unlocking the brain’s deepest secrets.” #UndergradResearch #STEMatSLAC
We made it through our first week research! This week, we mastered perfusions (to fix and harvest mouse brain tissue) and learned to use a laser scanning confocal microscope. Sectioning and immunofluorescence labeling practice coming up next week! #STEMatSLAC #undergradresearch #TRG
We made it through our first week research! This week, we mastered perfusions (to fix and harvest mouse brain tissue) and learned to use a laser scanning confocal microscope. Sectioning and immunofluorescence labeling practice coming up next week! #STEMatSLAC #undergradresearch #TRG
Today we learned how to use the laser scanning confocal microscope at the Cornell BRC Imaging core. Shoutout to Johanna Dela Cruz at the core for an amazing and engaging training session! We’re ready to image some 🧠 #STEMatSLAC #UndergradResearch #TRG
Today we learned how to use the laser scanning confocal microscope at the Cornell BRC Imaging core. Shoutout to Johanna Dela Cruz at the core for an amazing and engaging training session! We’re ready to image some 🧠 #STEMatSLAC #UndergradResearch #TRG
Who’s ready for science??? We’re spending this summer doing research at Cornell University. For our project, we’ll make use of CU’s great microscopy core facilities. First lab meeting at the famous gimme! coffee. I guess #STEMatSLAC can sometimes happen at research-intensive universities??
Who’s ready for science??? We’re spending this summer doing research at Cornell University. For our project, we’ll make use of CU’s great microscopy core facilities. First lab meeting at the famous gimme! coffee. I guess #STEMatSLAC can sometimes happen at research-intensive universities??
Here’s a part of science that people don’t often get to see: reading a giant stack of the existing literature! These caffeine-and-snack-driven sessions are where new research ideas are born! #InsideScience #coffeeshopsaremyoffice
Here’s a part of science that people don’t often get to see: reading a giant stack of the existing literature! These caffeine-and-snack-driven sessions are where new research ideas are born! #InsideScience #coffeeshopsaremyoffice
Thanks to Cornell Grad School for inviting Prof Tong back to speak about #STEMatSLAC. I also loved hearing from other panelists about their work.
Thanks to Cornell Grad School for inviting Prof Tong back to speak about #STEMatSLAC. I also loved hearing from other panelists about their work.
Congratulations to this class of neuroscientists! #EarlhamEverywhere #ClassOf2019 #STEMatSLAC
Congratulations to this class of neuroscientists! #EarlhamEverywhere #ClassOf2019 #STEMatSLAC
Dr. Kathy Milar was an instrumental part of bringing research rigour to the Neuroscience Program at Earlham College. She was also the first woman to be tenured in our department. This coming week is her final week of teaching. Congratulations, Kathy!
Dr. Kathy Milar was an instrumental part of bringing research rigour to the Neuroscience Program at Earlham College. She was also the first woman to be tenured in our department. This coming week is her final week of teaching. Congratulations, Kathy!
Many congratulations to Naomi Ongjanco for a beautiful performance today! #STEMatSLAC #NeuroscientistsWhoPlayMusic
Many congratulations to Naomi Ongjanco for a beautiful performance today! #STEMatSLAC #NeuroscientistsWhoPlayMusic
Did you know that both the Psychology and Neuroscience Award winners this year have been part of the Tong Research Group? Just sayin’ 🤷🏻‍♀️ Congrats to Arish and Flannery! #STEMatSLAC #findwhatswrong
Did you know that both the Psychology and Neuroscience Award winners this year have been part of the Tong Research Group? Just sayin’ 🤷🏻‍♀️ Congrats to Arish and Flannery! #STEMatSLAC #findwhatswrong
Arish Mudra Rakshasa holding it down at the West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference (WCBSUR) in San Diego this past weekend. Congratulations on your presentation, Arish! #STEMatSLAC #UndergradResearch #FirstSoloConference
Arish Mudra Rakshasa holding it down at the West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference (WCBSUR) in San Diego this past weekend. Congratulations on your presentation, Arish! #STEMatSLAC #UndergradResearch #FirstSoloConference
Amazed and inspired by these neuroscientists! Aishat helped to organize a conference today for students of colour, and Kendra Parker (who will join #TRG this summer!) led a workshop on access to medicine and representation in medical research. #STEMatSLAC #STEMforThePeople #amazed
Amazed and inspired by these neuroscientists! Aishat helped to organize a conference today for students of colour, and Kendra Parker (who will join #TRG this summer!) led a workshop on access to medicine and representation in medical research. #STEMatSLAC #STEMforThePeople #amazed
But wait there’s more?? congratulations to Aishat Sadiq for winning the Earlham Peace Prize! Aishat’s proj hopes to bring mental health education and resources to immigrant communities in the US. #STEMatSLAC #TRG
But wait there’s more?? congratulations to Aishat Sadiq for winning the Earlham Peace Prize! Aishat’s proj hopes to bring mental health education and resources to immigrant communities in the US. #STEMatSLAC #TRG
Whoa! It’s a good week for #TRG! Congrats to Maren Schroeder! Her paper on “The Effects of Curcumin on Glial Morphology Following Spinal Cord Injury in Lampreys” was published in IMPULSE! #STEMatSLAC #UndergradResearch https://impulse.appstate.edu/articles/2019/effects-curcumin-glial-morphology-following-spinal-cord-injury-lampreys
Whoa! It’s a good week for #TRG! Congrats to Maren Schroeder! Her paper on “The Effects of Curcumin on Glial Morphology Following Spinal Cord Injury in Lampreys” was published in IMPULSE! #STEMatSLAC #UndergradResearch https://impulse.appstate.edu/articles/2019/effects-curcumin-glial-morphology-following-spinal-cord-injury-lampreys
Congratulations to Anthony Maggard who will be starting a Ph.D. program in Neuroscience at Brandeis University in the fall! Yes, Anthony!! #STEMatSLAC #TRG #UndergradResearch
Congratulations to Anthony Maggard who will be starting a Ph.D. program in Neuroscience at Brandeis University in the fall! Yes, Anthony!! #STEMatSLAC #TRG #UndergradResearch
Neuroscientists relaxing after a long day in the lab. Secondary antibodies are on and all slides have been mounted. Imaging to come this week. Wish us luck! #STEMatSLAC #UndergradResearch #WorkHardPlayHard I’m still amazed by recombinase tech and the way its changed neuroscience. We’re using the FosTRAP transgenic mouse strain. When tamoxifen is injected, these mice begin to transcribe a fluorescent protein wherever cfos is expressed for a short window. Cfos is thought to be transcribed in response to learning. This means that we can capture the neuronal ensembles active during experiences within a short time window. So cool that we can do this!! #MethodsGeek Shoutout to Dr. Francesco Cavarretta for joining our lab meeting today. Francesco talked to us about biophysical modelling, and shared some of his latest work showing that simulations with multiple biophysically accurate neurons can actually provide insights into network connectivity. Thanks for these insights! Fancy deionized water dispenser! We use this water to mix the buffers that we use for immunofluorescent labeling. Deionized water is closer to a pH of 7, so we have more control over the pH of our buffers. This is critical since the antibody reactions rely on the right chemical environment. #STEMatSLAC #UndergradResearch #FancyScience Scientists on the weekend. Picking strawberries and enjoying non-dark, non-basements. #STEMatSLAC Wondering about our project? Our lab is interested in non-cellular mechanisms of long-term memory. This summer, we’re characterizing expression of perineuronal nets (PNNs, in red) around cells (in blue) in the olfactory bulb and the piriform cortex after olfactory learning. Once we understand the distribution of PNNs in these regions, we can begin the dissect the neural circuits involved in the learning. Are PNNs selectively expressed around learning-involved neurons? Are they inhibitory or excitatory? Who connects to them and who do they connect to? These answers will clue us into what PNNs are doing in LTM and how they affect memory circuits. Image from a PBS article “unlocking the brain’s deepest secrets.” #UndergradResearch #STEMatSLAC We made it through our first week research! This week, we mastered perfusions (to fix and harvest mouse brain tissue) and learned to use a laser scanning confocal microscope. Sectioning and immunofluorescence labeling practice coming up next week! #STEMatSLAC #undergradresearch #TRG Today we learned how to use the laser scanning confocal microscope at the Cornell BRC Imaging core. Shoutout to Johanna Dela Cruz at the core for an amazing and engaging training session! We’re ready to image some 🧠 #STEMatSLAC #UndergradResearch #TRG Who’s ready for science??? We’re spending this summer doing research at Cornell University. For our project, we’ll make use of CU’s great microscopy core facilities. First lab meeting at the famous gimme! coffee. I guess #STEMatSLAC can sometimes happen at research-intensive universities?? Here’s a part of science that people don’t often get to see: reading a giant stack of the existing literature! These caffeine-and-snack-driven sessions are where new research ideas are born! #InsideScience #coffeeshopsaremyoffice Thanks to Cornell Grad School for inviting Prof Tong back to speak about #STEMatSLAC. I also loved hearing from other panelists about their work. Congratulations to this class of neuroscientists! #EarlhamEverywhere #ClassOf2019 #STEMatSLAC Dr. Kathy Milar was an instrumental part of bringing research rigour to the Neuroscience Program at Earlham College. She was also the first woman to be tenured in our department. This coming week is her final week of teaching. Congratulations, Kathy! Many congratulations to Naomi Ongjanco for a beautiful performance today! #STEMatSLAC #NeuroscientistsWhoPlayMusic Did you know that both the Psychology and Neuroscience Award winners this year have been part of the Tong Research Group? Just sayin’ 🤷🏻‍♀️ Congrats to Arish and Flannery! #STEMatSLAC #findwhatswrong Arish Mudra Rakshasa holding it down at the West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference (WCBSUR) in San Diego this past weekend. Congratulations on your presentation, Arish! #STEMatSLAC #UndergradResearch #FirstSoloConference Amazed and inspired by these neuroscientists! Aishat helped to organize a conference today for students of colour, and Kendra Parker (who will join #TRG this summer!) led a workshop on access to medicine and representation in medical research. #STEMatSLAC #STEMforThePeople #amazed But wait there’s more?? congratulations to Aishat Sadiq for winning the Earlham Peace Prize! Aishat’s proj hopes to bring mental health education and resources to immigrant communities in the US. #STEMatSLAC #TRG Whoa! It’s a good week for #TRG! Congrats to Maren Schroeder! Her paper on “The Effects of Curcumin on Glial Morphology Following Spinal Cord Injury in Lampreys” was published in IMPULSE! #STEMatSLAC #UndergradResearch https://impulse.appstate.edu/articles/2019/effects-curcumin-glial-morphology-following-spinal-cord-injury-lampreys Congratulations to Anthony Maggard who will be starting a Ph.D. program in Neuroscience at Brandeis University in the fall! Yes, Anthony!! #STEMatSLAC #TRG #UndergradResearch

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