Yael Katz, Presidential Fellow 2006-2008
Interdepartmental Biological Sciences Program

> How would you describe your research in 1 or 2 sentences?

I am trying to understand the input / output relationship of information in neurons and small networks of neurons. The neurons I am studying are in a part of the brain known to be responsible for learning and short-term memory.

> Can you explain that a little further?

Neurons receive hundreds of inputs each millisecond, and must constantly integrate these inputs to generate their outputs. To better understand how neurons do this, I make mathematical models that I turn into computer simulations. The ultimate goal of these models is to make predictions that I and others can test in the lab. I am also interested in incorporating what I learn from my detailed models into more abstract models of behavior such as that of a rat navigating a maze in search of a reward. These are exciting because they are among the first studies of behavior in terms of the detailed molecular and cellular picture.

> How did you decide to enter your field, and what brought you to your topic?

Ever since I read “What is Life” by Erwin Schrodinger, I have been interested in the question of how biological complexity arises from simple physical laws. One of the most remarkable examples of this is the emergence of organized behavior from the biophysics of neurons and neural networks.

> Who is your advisor?

I actually have 2 advisors: Nelson Spruston, a neurobiologist, and Bill Kath, an applied mathematician.

> What are your interests outside of research?

Outside of research, I like to dabble in new things. Since I started grad school, I’ve learned to play the violin, make pottery, play tennis, and knit.

> What are your future plans?

In the future, I hope to be a professor and have my own research group.