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:

Well, we’ve got olfactory bulb! Khyrul Khan is piloting a protocol this semester that allows us to label perineuronal nets with a fluorescent protein. We were just looking at some olfactory bulb slices this week, without the label. Science takes time and practice. #STEMatSLAC #GFP #Imaging
Well, we’ve got olfactory bulb! Khyrul Khan is piloting a protocol this semester that allows us to label perineuronal nets with a fluorescent protein. We were just looking at some olfactory bulb slices this week, without the label. Science takes time and practice. #STEMatSLAC #GFP #Imaging
PI Michelle Tong and student Flannery Currin are co-teaching a “Robotic Animals” class this semester. The class will allow students to explore how complex cognition can result from simple computations. We’re also doing a little study on how students learn best in multidisciplinary classes. #STEMatSLAC #CognitiveScience
PI Michelle Tong and student Flannery Currin are co-teaching a “Robotic Animals” class this semester. The class will allow students to explore how complex cognition can result from simple computations. We’re also doing a little study on how students learn best in multidisciplinary classes. #STEMatSLAC #CognitiveScience
We can use genetically encoded fluorescent proteins to selectively label the cells that we want to record from. Remember how hard it was to see the muscle cells? Well, take a look at them now that they have been labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP). #STEMatSLAC #microscopy
We can use genetically encoded fluorescent proteins to selectively label the cells that we want to record from. Remember how hard it was to see the muscle cells? Well, take a look at them now that they have been labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP). #STEMatSLAC #microscopy
‪I’ll be spending my day trying to find and record from transverse muscles in a fruit fly LARVA after ontogenetic stimulation of the motor nerve. The second image is what we see under the microscope. Can you see the muscle cell??????? #neuroscience #fruitfly #STEMatSLAC ‬
‪I’ll be spending my day trying to find and record from transverse muscles in a fruit fly LARVA after ontogenetic stimulation of the motor nerve. The second image is what we see under the microscope. Can you see the muscle cell??????? #neuroscience #fruitfly #STEMatSLAC ‬
The Spring semester is about to start at Earlham, but before PI Michelle Tong goes back to teaching, she’s doing a little learning of her own. This week, she’s up at Cornell learning how to record electrical signals from invertebrates (like fruit flies and crawfish). Never stop learning. #STEMatSLAC #Neuroscience
The Spring semester is about to start at Earlham, but before PI Michelle Tong goes back to teaching, she’s doing a little learning of her own. This week, she’s up at Cornell learning how to record electrical signals from invertebrates (like fruit flies and crawfish). Never stop learning. #STEMatSLAC #Neuroscience
TRG fans, PI Michelle Tong is tweeting about #STEMatSLAC all week at www.twitter.com/realscientists
TRG fans, PI Michelle Tong is tweeting about #STEMatSLAC all week at www.twitter.com/realscientists
A few weeks ago, I found out that I was NOT elected for a councillor position for the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience. I’m disappointed, but I won’t stop supporting great #undergradresearch and great teaching. #DontGiveUp #KeepingOn
A few weeks ago, I found out that I was NOT elected for a councillor position for the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience. I’m disappointed, but I won’t stop supporting great #undergradresearch and great teaching. #DontGiveUp #KeepingOn
Presenting their work during a campus wide research conference. On campus conferences are a great way to practice research presentations in a low stakes environment. They are also a great way to share with your work with campus community (ie show off a little for your friends). #undergradresearch #stematslac
Presenting their work during a campus wide research conference. On campus conferences are a great way to practice research presentations in a low stakes environment. They are also a great way to share with your work with campus community (ie show off a little for your friends). #undergradresearch #stematslac
Oh snap! Earlham students take the mGLuRs Neuroscience #UndergradResearch Conference by storm! TRG students Abhay, Mallory, and Jerilyn won second place for their poster presentation. Congrats, guys!!! #STEMatSLAC #KillingIt
Oh snap! Earlham students take the mGLuRs Neuroscience #UndergradResearch Conference by storm! TRG students Abhay, Mallory, and Jerilyn won second place for their poster presentation. Congrats, guys!!! #STEMatSLAC #KillingIt
What’s the big fuss? Cryosectioning! #undergradresearch student Khyrul Khan has begun to slice brains. Khyrul is working on optimizing a protocol for immunofluorescence imaging of perineuronal nets. We’ll finally get to see our dear PNNs in action! #STEMatSLAC
What’s the big fuss? Cryosectioning! #undergradresearch student Khyrul Khan has begun to slice brains. Khyrul is working on optimizing a protocol for immunofluorescence imaging of perineuronal nets. We’ll finally get to see our dear PNNs in action! #STEMatSLAC
The Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience (FUN) officer elections are underway! This year, Prof Michelle Tong was nominated for a councilor position! Stayed tuned for the results!
The Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience (FUN) officer elections are underway! This year, Prof Michelle Tong was nominated for a councilor position! Stayed tuned for the results!
Aishat Sadiq is extracting RNA for a project where we’re measuring changes in mRNA levels of the PNN protein components, brevican, aggrecan, and neurocan. Science is pretty! #STEMatSLAC
Aishat Sadiq is extracting RNA for a project where we’re measuring changes in mRNA levels of the PNN protein components, brevican, aggrecan, and neurocan. Science is pretty! #STEMatSLAC
Whoa!! Tong Research Group is full and bustling this semester! Our summer dream team returns to continue their project (missing Valentina Martin 👋) and they are joined by Khyrul Khan, Flannery Currin, and Arish Mudra Rakshasa!
Whoa!! Tong Research Group is full and bustling this semester! Our summer dream team returns to continue their project (missing Valentina Martin 👋) and they are joined by Khyrul Khan, Flannery Currin, and Arish Mudra Rakshasa!
Our summer NSF REU is over, but great research questions still remain. Congratulations to this amazing team. So very proud of these courageous and persevering students! #stematslac #undergradresearch
Our summer NSF REU is over, but great research questions still remain. Congratulations to this amazing team. So very proud of these courageous and persevering students! #stematslac #undergradresearch
Our whole Summer 2018 NSF REU family! #undergradresearch #STEMatSLAC
Our whole Summer 2018 NSF REU family! #undergradresearch #STEMatSLAC
Presenting our poster from this summer’s research! #STEMatSLAC #undergradresearch
Presenting our poster from this summer’s research! #STEMatSLAC #undergradresearch
Celebrating a successful research conference with Vietnamese food #STEMatSLAC #undergradresearch
Celebrating a successful research conference with Vietnamese food #STEMatSLAC #undergradresearch
Lab clean-up day vibes. #STEMatSLAC #undergradresearch
All smiles (& sweat ...) for Tong Research Group this summer. These guys are champs. #undergradresearch #STEMatSLAC
All smiles (& sweat ...) for Tong Research Group this summer. These guys are champs. #undergradresearch #STEMatSLAC
Research is a lot of work, but there are times when you can get together with colleagues, share a meal, and talk shop! Thanks to College of Wooster for hosting us! #undergradresearch #STEMatSLAC
Research is a lot of work, but there are times when you can get together with colleagues, share a meal, and talk shop! Thanks to College of Wooster for hosting us! #undergradresearch #STEMatSLAC
Well, we’ve got olfactory bulb! Khyrul Khan is piloting a protocol this semester that allows us to label perineuronal nets with a fluorescent protein. We were just looking at some olfactory bulb slices this week, without the label. Science takes time and practice. #STEMatSLAC #GFP #Imaging PI Michelle Tong and student Flannery Currin are co-teaching a “Robotic Animals” class this semester. The class will allow students to explore how complex cognition can result from simple computations. We’re also doing a little study on how students learn best in multidisciplinary classes. #STEMatSLAC #CognitiveScience We can use genetically encoded fluorescent proteins to selectively label the cells that we want to record from. Remember how hard it was to see the muscle cells? Well, take a look at them now that they have been labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP). #STEMatSLAC #microscopy ‪I’ll be spending my day trying to find and record from transverse muscles in a fruit fly LARVA after ontogenetic stimulation of the motor nerve. The second image is what we see under the microscope. Can you see the muscle cell??????? #neuroscience #fruitfly #STEMatSLAC ‬ The Spring semester is about to start at Earlham, but before PI Michelle Tong goes back to teaching, she’s doing a little learning of her own. This week, she’s up at Cornell learning how to record electrical signals from invertebrates (like fruit flies and crawfish). Never stop learning. #STEMatSLAC #Neuroscience TRG fans, PI Michelle Tong is tweeting about #STEMatSLAC all week at www.twitter.com/realscientists A few weeks ago, I found out that I was NOT elected for a councillor position for the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience. I’m disappointed, but I won’t stop supporting great #undergradresearch and great teaching. #DontGiveUp #KeepingOn Presenting their work during a campus wide research conference. On campus conferences are a great way to practice research presentations in a low stakes environment. They are also a great way to share with your work with campus community (ie show off a little for your friends). #undergradresearch #stematslac Oh snap! Earlham students take the mGLuRs Neuroscience #UndergradResearch Conference by storm! TRG students Abhay, Mallory, and Jerilyn won second place for their poster presentation. Congrats, guys!!! #STEMatSLAC #KillingIt What’s the big fuss? Cryosectioning! #undergradresearch student Khyrul Khan has begun to slice brains. Khyrul is working on optimizing a protocol for immunofluorescence imaging of perineuronal nets. We’ll finally get to see our dear PNNs in action! #STEMatSLAC The Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience (FUN) officer elections are underway! This year, Prof Michelle Tong was nominated for a councilor position! Stayed tuned for the results! Aishat Sadiq is extracting RNA for a project where we’re measuring changes in mRNA levels of the PNN protein components, brevican, aggrecan, and neurocan. Science is pretty! #STEMatSLAC Whoa!! Tong Research Group is full and bustling this semester! Our summer dream team returns to continue their project (missing Valentina Martin 👋) and they are joined by Khyrul Khan, Flannery Currin, and Arish Mudra Rakshasa! Our summer NSF REU is over, but great research questions still remain. Congratulations to this amazing team. So very proud of these courageous and persevering students! #stematslac #undergradresearch Our whole Summer 2018 NSF REU family! #undergradresearch #STEMatSLAC Presenting our poster from this summer’s research! #STEMatSLAC #undergradresearch Celebrating a successful research conference with Vietnamese food #STEMatSLAC #undergradresearch
Lab clean-up day vibes. #STEMatSLAC #undergradresearch
All smiles (& sweat ...) for Tong Research Group this summer. These guys are champs. #undergradresearch #STEMatSLAC Research is a lot of work, but there are times when you can get together with colleagues, share a meal, and talk shop! Thanks to College of Wooster for hosting us! #undergradresearch #STEMatSLAC

Feel free to explore this website for more information about what we do and how to join us!