Jacyln (Jac) Eisdorfer

• Priority Areas: Advancing STEM Diversity
• Disciplines: SCI, Spinal cord injury, motor control, biomechanics, computational modeling, AI, behavior
• Mentor: Victoria E. Abraira
• Mentors' Disciplines: Cell Biology and Neuroscience
• School: School of Arts and Sciences
• Department: Cell Biology and Neuroscience

Jac's research focuses on understanding the intricate relationship between neural circuits and motor behavior after spinal cord injury (SCI). The central hypothesis of her research program is that distinct dopamine dynamics in a brain region known as the dorsolateral striatum (DLS) underlie motor recovery following SCI, with changes in dopamine release corresponding to specific motor behaviors. This work, which is now supported by an NIH NINDS K99/R00 award, will establish baseline DLS dopamine transients during recovery, define DLS dopamine transients in specific post-SCI behaviors, evaluate the effect of exercise rehabilitation on DLS dopamine and behavior, and assess real-time modulation of DLS dopamine in motor action selection and sequencing post-SCI. Jac's project leverages sophisticated tools like photometry in awake behaving mice, AI-driven behavioral characterization, mouse molecular genetics, AAV tracing, and optogenetics. The impact of this research is significant as completing the proposed aims will provide fundamental insight into how DLS dopamine dynamics and supraspinal circuits contribute to motor recovery. A better understanding of these circuits could lead to the identification of new therapeutic targets and the subsequent development of improved treatments for SCI.

Regarding mentoring activities, Jac aims to establish an independent academic research program and lead a research team focused on reverse engineering motor actions following SCI to identify neural mechanisms that underlie recovery. Jac has already demonstrated a commitment to mentoring, with co-last author papers coming from her formal mentees, including an NIH Diversity Fellow and an NIH NINDS T32 Fellow/PhD student for whom she also serves on the Dissertation Committee. Jac also serves as the Chair of the Brain Health Institute’s Postdoctoral Alliance Working Group and Executive Committee member. Jac further founded the Abraira Lab Computational Internship, an internship for students of all career stages to learn the computational pipeline of handling large, multidimensional datasets for behavioral analysis. Jac will also continue to engage in professional development activities, including mentorship training, through the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. Jac's mentors are also committed to supporting her transition to independence, including guidance on building strong job applications, preparing for interviews and chalk talks, and advising on setting up a lab.