معرفی
Nick Vierra, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Utah. His research focuses on molecular neuroscience, particularly the role of membrane contact sites (ER-PM junctions) in neuronal signaling and intracellular communication.
- Education:
- B.S. in Biological Sciences from California State University, Chico
- Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Vanderbilt University
Vierra's work employs multi-disciplinary techniques including electrophysiology, fluorescence microscopy, and protein mass spectrometry to study how ER-PM junctions translate electrical signals into biochemical responses in neurons. His lab develops novel antibodies to investigate these signaling complexes, aiming to create an atlas of ER-PM junction classes in brain neurons.
Key research areas include:
- Stacked subsurface cisternae as organelles that detect electrical signals
- Formation and organization of ER-PM junctions
- Signaling complexes that regulate neuronal excitability
- Disease mechanisms involving disrupted ER-PM junction proteins
His publications reveal a consistent focus on ion channels (particularly Kv2.1 and TALK-1), ER-PM junctions, calcium signaling, and their roles in both neuronal function and pancreatic β-cell physiology. While no scientific awards are mentioned in the available text, Vierra's research program appears to bridge neuroscience and endocrinology through the common thread of membrane contact site signaling.
For more information about Vierra's work, visit his lab page or explore his publications via PubMed or Google Scholar.
