Alumni team "Chronobiology and affective disorders"

My PhD project focuses on understanding how the mammalian retinal clock is entrained by light. I aim first to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying light entrainment of the retinal clock, especially the role of dopamine and  the relative contributions of the different photoreceptors in these processes. Second, I will determine whether the absence of specific photoreceptors contributes to retinal clock dysfunction. Several complementary approaches are used including in vitro bioluminescence gene imaging, laser microdissection, RT-qPCR and monochromatic light stimulation.