University of Calgary

Derya Sargin

  • Assistant Professor

Research Activities

Research in our lab studies the brain circuits involved in social and affective behaviours. We are particularly interested in understanding how chronic stress affects brain connectivity and function. Chronic stress is a risk factor for the development of depression and anxiety disorders, some of the most common and debilitating diseases worldwide. Recent evidence suggests that rather than an impairment in a specific area in the brain, a disruption of an entire functional network may underlie the mechanisms that lead to these diseases. In our lab, we aim to reveal how the critical brain networks regulate complex behaviours and how depression inducing chronic stress affects connectivity and behaviour. We use a multidisciplinary approach with a combination of patch clamp electrophysiology, in vivo calcium imaging, optogenetics, histological and behavioural analysis in transgenic mouse models to answer these questions. With these approaches, we seek to ultimately develop novel circuit-based targets for treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases characterized by emotional dysregulation.

Open Positions

We are looking for highly motivated PhD students and postdocs to study the effects of stress on social and emotional brain circuits using mouse models. Interested candidates should send a brief statement of research interests, CV and up to date transcripts to Dr. Derya Sargin at derya.sargin@ucalgary.ca.

Affiliations

Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI)

Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI)

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