About
Mark joined the faculty at MIT in 2015 and was promoted to associate professor with tenure in 2023. He became Graduate Officer in 2021. He received his B.A. in Biology from Reed College in Portland, Oregon and his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to joining MIT, he was a postdoctoral researcher at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Janelia Research Campus in Ashburn, Virginia.
Research
Our laboratory studies how the biophysical features of individual neurons endow neural circuits with powerful processing capabilities, ultimately facilitating the complex computations required to drive adaptive behavior. A principal focus of our work is the role of dendrites, the elaborate tree-like structures where neurons receive the vast majority of afferent input. The spatial arrangement of synaptic contacts on dendrites and the interaction of various biophysical mechanisms enable complex integration of synaptic inputs – our hypothesis is that circuit-level computations are built out of these fundamental operations.
BIOPHYSICS & SINGLE-CELL COMPUTATION
The morphological features and local ion channel mechanisms in specific dendritic compartments strongly influence how neurons integrate their inputs. We combine brain slice electrophysiology, two-photon imaging, and biophysical modeling to investigate the rules and mechanisms supporting different forms of input-output processing across mammalian species.
NEURONAL COMPUTATION IN THE BEHAVING ANIMAL
How do biophysical mechanisms influence circuit-level computation during behavior? To address this question, we combine 2-photon imaging and multi-unit electrophysiological recording techniques with novel rodent behavioral paradigms to measure the activity of neuronal populations including subcellular compartments. This allows us to evaluate the engagement of dendritic mechanisms as a function of circuit dynamics during complex behaviors. These experiments are complemented by detailed anatomical and single-cell physiological investigations in brain slices.
Teaching
9.17 Systems Neuroscience Laboratory
Publications
A publications list can be found on the Harnett Lab website.