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Current Research Projects
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To
develop a functional rat model for
symptoms of
major depression, reflecting behavioral and endocrine impairments as well as biochemical and
neurotransmitter-related pathologies observed in humans
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To determine the effects of
acute and
chronic
elevation of the
circadian glucocorticoid
pattern on
brain
serotonergic systems
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Collaborations: interaction of early-life
stressors (maternal separation, social isolation) on behavior and
serotonergic gene expression later in life; effects of different
types of psychological and physical stressors in adult life on
serotonergic gene expression; characterization of neuronal networks
related to social anxiety- and panic-like behavior; effects of
chronic nicotine exposure on serotonergic gene expression
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Education
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Research Experience
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2009 - present |
Graduate Research Assistant,
Department of Integrative Physiology,
Laboratory of
Christopher A. Lowry (Ph.D.), University of
Colorado, Boulder |
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2006 - 2008 |
Graduate Research Assistant,
Biomedical Sciences Department,
Laboratory of
Robert J. Handa (Ph.D.), Colorado State University,
Fort Collins |
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2005 - 2006
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Research Assistant, Department of
Behavioral and Molecular
Neuroendocrinology,
Laboratory of
Inga D. Neumann (Ph.D.), University of
Regensburg |
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2004 |
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Department of
Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Laboratory of
William B. Wood
(Ph.D.), University of Colorado, Boulder |
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2003 |
Undergraduate
Research Assistant,
Department of Integrative Physiology, Laboratory of
Pei-San Tsai (Ph.D.), University of Colorado, Boulder
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Teaching Experience
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2009
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Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Integrative
Physiology, Cell
Physiology (IPHY 3060), University of Colorado, Boulder
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2007 |
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Biomedical
Sciences Department, Functional Neuroanatomy (BMS 345), Colorado State University, Fort Collins |
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2005 |
Teaching Assistant, Department of
Behavioral and Molecular
Neuroendocrinology, Animal Physiology, University of Regensburg,
Germany
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2005
- present
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Mentoring
of
undergraduate
students |
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1998 - 2002 |
Tutoring in Math, Latin and German at high school level
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Other Professional Experience
1998 - 2000
Freelance
writer for the local press (Süddeutsche
Zeitung Fürstenfeldbruck)
2009 - present
Freelance
Translation Services (English-German & Deutsch-Englisch)
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 Research
Skill Set
Histology / Microscopy / Neuroanatomy
Immunohistochemistry
In situ
hybridization
In vivo
microdialysis
Microdissection
Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)
Cloning, Sub-Cloning, Ribo-Probe Design
Genetic Crossings, siRNA
Microbiology Procedures (including anaerobic and
hyperthermophilic bacteria)
Gel-Electrophoresis
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)
Radio-Immuno-Assay (RIA)
Small Animal Surgery (including stereotaxic / intracranial
implantations)
Behavioral Testing
Data Analysis and Graphic Representation (Microsoft Excel,
SigmaPlot)
Statistical Analysis (SPSS)
Scientific Writing & Presenting
Web Page Design
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Honors and Awards
| 2010, 2011 |
Departmental & Graduate School Travel Awards |
| 2010 |
SigmaXi Grants in Aid of Research (GIAR) Award |
| 2010 |
Front Range Neuroscience Group (FRNG) Student Poster
Award |
| 2006 - 2007
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Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes (German
National Academic
Foundation)
Fellowship for 1st year
of graduate studies
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2006 |
Siemens VDO Excellence Award for Master's Thesis at the
University of
Regensburg, Germany
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| 2004
- 2005 |
Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes Fellowship
based on academic excellence
& leadership
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2003 - 2004 |
Exchange Year Scholarship from the
DAAD
(German Academic Exchange
Service)
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2001 |
Sponsored Summer Internship at the Department of Cellular
and Systems Neurobiology,
Laboratory of
Tobias Bonhoeffer
(Ph.D.),
Max-Planck-Institute for Neurobiology
in Munich / Martinsried, Germany
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2001
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London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF)
Award
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2000 |
Jugend forscht (Young Researchers)
National Award
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1993,
1997 |
Jugend
forscht (Young Researchers) Regional Awards |
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Publications
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Kelly KJ, Donner NC, Hale MW, Lowry CA (2011).
In vivo evidence for a cold-sensitive
serotonergic
system in the rat dorsal raphe nucleus. Submitted
to American Journal
of Physiology
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Donner NC, Montoya CD, Lukkes JL, Lowry CA.
Chronic non-invasive corticosterone
administration
abolishes the diurnal pattern of tph2
expression (2011). Submitted
to Psychoneuroendocrinology
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Donner N, Handa RJ (2009).
Estrogen receptor beta regulates the expression of tph2
mRNA within
serotonergic neurons of the rat
dorsal raphe nuclei.
Neuroscience, 163, 705-18
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Donner N, Neumann ID (2009). Effects of chronic
intracerebral prolactin on the oxytocinergic
and
vasopressinergic system of virgin ovariectomized rats.
Neuroendocrinology,
90, 315-22 
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Donner N,
Maloumby R, Bredewold R, Neumann ID (2007).
Chronic intracerebral prolactin attenuates
neuronal stress circuitries in virgin rats. European
Journal of
Neuroscience, 25,
1804-1814
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Donner N
(2000).
Honey under the microscope - a mix of sugar crystals and pollen
that kills germs
[Original article in German].
Mikrokosmos 89,
91-95
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Abstracts
Donner NC,
Johnson PL, Fitz SD, Shekhar A, Lowry
CA. Elevation of tph2 mRNA associated with
development of a chronic
anxiety-like state. Proceedings of the Society for
Neuroscience Annual Meeting
(2011)
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Donner NC, Montoya
CD, Wacker AJ, Lowry CA. One day of corticosterone delivery via
the drinking
water is sufficient to disrupt
ACTH and glucose rhythmicity, and suppresses dark-phase 5-HT-neuronal
activation in the dorsal raphe nucleus. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the
Endocrine Society (2011)
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Donner NC, Montoya CD, Wacker AJ, Lowry CA.
Chronic, non-invasive corticosterone delivery disrupts
the circadian pattern of
hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis activity and induces anxiety- and
depression-like behaviors in
rats. Proceedings of
the Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting (2010)
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Donner
N,
Handa RJ.
Estrogen receptor beta regulates tryptophan-hydroxylase-2 within
serotonergic
neurons of
the dorsal raphe nuclei. Proceedings of the Annual
Meeting of the Endocrine Society (2008)
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Donner N, Weiser MJ, Kudwa AE, Handa RJ.
Estrogen receptor beta regulates c-Fos
immunoreactivity
within
tryptophan-hydroxylase-2 neurons of the dorsal raphe
nucleus. Proceedings of the
Society for
Neuroscience Annual
Meeting (2007)
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Donner N, Neumann ID.
Chronic icv prolactin
increases basal, but attenuates stress-induced plasma
oxytocin in
virgin ovariectomized rats. Proceedings of the 7th
World Congress on
Neurohypophysial
Neurons (2007)
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Donner N, Maloumby R, Bredewold R, Neumann ID.
Chronic prolactin treatment: anxiolytic
effects and
attenuation of neuroendocrine and neuronal responses
to acute
stress. Proceedings of the 6th
International Congress of
Neuroendocrinology
(2006)
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Scientific Memberships
2011 - present
Front Range Neuroscience Group (FRNG) student committee member
2010 - present
Sigma Xi - The Scientific Research Society
2007 - present
The
Endocrine Society
2006 - present Society for Neuroscience (SfN)
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Personal Information
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Birthplace:
Munich, Germany
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Sport: all the outdoor fun (running, hiking, climbing,
biking, skiing, swimming)
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Hobbies: travelling, reading, foreign cultures, music
(hammer dulcimer/saxophone), cooking, motorcycle riding,
juggling, observing animals outside the cage
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