معرفی
Juan Marcos Alarcón, PhD, is an Associate Professor and Principal Investigator in the Department of Pathology at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University. His laboratory investigates how experiences shape brain function in neurotypical rodents and models of brain disease, with a focus on neurodevelopmental mechanisms linked to autism spectrum disorders. Dr. Alarcón earned his PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Chile, followed by postdoctoral training in neurobiology under Dr. Eric Kandel at Columbia University.
Research interests include synaptic plasticity, neuronal ensemble organization, and gene expression regulation in the context of memory formation. His team uses multidisciplinary approaches, combining electrophysiology, RNAseq, and behavioral analysis to study neurological disorders. Notably, he co-leads the REACH summer program, which provides research training for underrepresented minorities in neuroscience.
Key grants include an NINDS-funded R25 grant (2021–2025) supporting minority student engagement in autism research. The lab's website (alarconlab.com) details ongoing projects and collaborations.
