Characterizing Neuronal and Cardiac Isoforms of Voltage-Gated

CaV1.2 CACNA1C Calcium Channels

Kristin Marie Webster B.A., Hamilton College, 2009

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Neuroscience at Brown University

Providence, RI May 2015

Copyright © by Kristin Marie Webster. All rights reserved.

ii

This dissertation by Kristin Marie Webster is accepted in its present form by the Department of Neuroscience as satisfying the dissertation requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

Date ______

______Diane Lipscombe, Advisor Neuroscience Department Brown University

Recommended to the Graduate Council

Date ______

______Anne Hart, Reader Neuroscience Department Brown University

Date ______

______Eric Morrow, Reader Molecular Cell Biology & Biochemistry Department Brown University

Date ______Anjali Rajadhyaksha, Reader Pediatrics Department Weil Cornell College of Medicine

Approved by the Graduate Council

Date ______Peter Weber Dean of the Graduate School Brown University

iii Kristin M. Webster Born July 29th, 1987 Princeton, NJ

Brown University Residence Box GL-N, Neuroscience Graduate Program 153 Governor St Unit 2 Providence, RI 02912 USA Providence, RI 02906 USA Phone: +1 (401) 863-2615 Phone: +1 (570) 575-3651 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

EDUCATION

Brown University Providence, RI PhD candidate in Neuroscience 2009 - Present Advisor: Professor Diane Lipscombe, PhD

Hamilton College Clinton, NY BA, magna cum laude, Neuroscience, Phi Beta Kappa 2009

FELLOWSHIPS

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award from the NIMH 2012-2014 "Neuronal-Specific Splicing of CaV1.2 L-type Calcium Channels"

REFFERRED PUBLICATIONS

Ruz, M., Moser, A., & Webster, K. (2011). Social Expectations Bias Decision-Making in Uncertain Inter-Personal Situations. PLoS ONE. 6(2).

RESEARCH TRAINING

The Genome Access Course 2011 Two day intensive course at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories to familiarize participants with online tools for bioinformatics and analysis of genomic data

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Biology Department, Hamilton College 2008-2009 Research Assistant • Examined the role of the insect neurotransmitter octopamine in an olfactory learning paradigm in Drosophila melanogaster larvae • Completed a senior thesis with honors

Brain and Cognition Lab, Oxford University Spring 2008 Research Assistant • Ran participants and performed data analysis in an experiment examining the role of social biases in decision making

iv Biology Department, Hamilton College Summer 2007 Research Assistant • Conducted experiments on octopamine synthesis and the enzyme tyramine-β-hydroxylase through Western Blot analysis in Apis mellifera

Biology Department, Misericordia University Summer 2006 Research Assistant • Tested coatings for glass medical containers

INVITED SEMINARS

Hamilton College 2013

POSTERS/PRESENTATIONS

Webster, K and Lipscombe, D (2014). Different forms of CaV1.2 proteins are expressed in brain and heart. Miami 2014 Winter Symposium: The molecular basis of brain disorders.

Webster, K and Lipscombe, D (2013). Different forms of calcium channel CaV1.2 proteins are expressed in brain and heart. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting.

Webster, K and Lipscombe, D (2013). Head vs. Heart: A Physiological Characterization of the Neuronal and Cardiac Isoforms of CaV1.2. Brown University Neuroscience Graduate Program Annual Retreat. Awarded 2nd place.

CACNA1C calcium channels: Multiple isoforms expressed in different tissues. Brown University Neuroscience Graduate Program In House Seminar Series (2013).

Webster, K and Lipscombe, D (2012). Investigating Nova-2’s Regula