Professor, Biology
B.A., Macalester College; Ph.D., UC Berkeley
Department Chair,
Neuroscience
Appointed In
2003
Office
Bioscience 207
Hours
Spring 2026: By appointment (on leave)
Prof. Baran studies neuron development, including microtubule-based mechanisms that underlie axon outgrowth and synapse formation.
Research Description
The Baran lab is focused on understanding how neural circuits are formed and maintained. We use the genetic model organism, C. elegans, to investigate early stages in nervous system development including cell fate specification, axon outgrowth and synapse formation with an emphasis on the GABAergic motor neurons, the inhibitory component of the C. elegans motor circuit. Research in the lab utilizes a variety of genetic, cellular and molecular techniques.
Students learn:
- Genetic techniques: genetic crosses, screens for mutants, SNP-mapping, CRISPR gene editing
- Basic genomics and bioinformatics
- Molecular Biology techniques: PCR, bacterial transformation, conventional and Golden Gate cloning
- Immunohistochemistry
- Light, epi-fluorescence and confocal microscopy & image analysis
Courses
Genetic Analysis (Bio 224)
Research Methods (Bio 290)
Senior Comps (Bio 490)