Karine Fenelon

Karine Fenelon is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology within the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her research investigates the neural mechanisms underlying sensory information filtering, with implications for psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia.

Research Interests: Dr. Fenelon's work centers on synaptic transmission and neural circuitry involved in pre-attentive sensory gating. She explores how the caudal pontine reticular nucleus (PnC) in the brainstem regulates the filtering of sensory input to prevent cognitive overload. This research is critical for understanding pathophysiological mechanisms in disorders marked by impaired sensory filtering.

Her laboratory employs a multidisciplinary toolkit, including anatomical tracing, immunohistochemistry, in vivo and in vitro electrophysiology, genetic manipulation, and behavioral assays in rodent models, including those relevant to disease states. The long-term goal of her research is to identify novel therapeutic targets for cognitive and behavioral deficits associated with sensory processing dysfunction.

Dr. Fenelon has been trained extensively in neuroscience research, with a strong foundation in both basic and translational approaches. Although no specific awards or publications are listed in the provided text, her research program is actively contributing to the field of systems and behavioral neuroscience.

Education:

• B.S., McGill University, 1999
• M.Sc., Universite de Sherbrooke, 2002
• Ph.D., Universite de Montreal, 2008
• Postdoctoral Training, Columbia University Medical Center, 2008–2013

She advises students in neuroscience and biology, and her lab likely supports graduate and undergraduate researchers, though no named students are listed. There is no mention of external grants, but her research scope implies involvement in funded projects. Dr. Fenelon’s work bridges cellular neuroscience with systems-level behavior, positioning her at the forefront of integrative brain research.