Chris Rodgers

Chris Rodgers serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at Emory University School of Medicine, with additional affiliation in Biology. His research explores how neural circuits enable perception and action through touch and sound, and how these processes are disrupted in brain disorders.

Education:

• B.Eng in Engineering, McGill University (2007)
• Ph.D. in Neuroscience, University of California, Berkeley (2013)

Research Focus: The Rodgers Lab (Perception & Action Lab) investigates sensorimotor neural circuits using mouse models. They develop behavioral paradigms where mice actively explore their environment, then apply computational analysis, machine learning, electrophysiology, and optogenetics to dissect neural computations. The lab aims to understand how distributed brain regions collaborate during behavior and how disorders alter these dynamics, with translational goals for rehabilitation.

Advising and Environment: Dr. Rodgers fosters a lab culture centered on mutual respect, good-faith mentorship, and honest feedback. He supports trainees in achieving scientific excellence and individual career objectives through collaborative research on neural circuit mechanisms and their implications for brain health.

Lab Facilities: The PAC Lab operates from the Whitehead Biomedical Research Building and Woodruff Memorial Research Building, utilizing advanced tools for behavioral analysis, neural recording, and manipulation to study active sensing and motor control.