Malin Andersson

malin.andersson @vanderbilt.edu

I am a post-doctoral fellow from Sweden, who arrived in the beginning of 2004. I am fascinated by the molecular mechanisms underlying plasticity of basal ganglia circuits, especially in neuropsychiatric disorders. My main research project is a study of proteomic changes in the substantia nigra after lesions of glutamatergic inputs from the subthalamic nucleus. I am using MALDI Imaging Mass Spectrometry that allows for the simultaneous detection of many peptides and proteins directly on tissue sections. In my spare time I enjoy designing and making silver jewelry. There is something about turning the relentless, uncompromising silver starting material into something beautiful that is very satisfactory. The process is very similar to research, a lot of hard and often boring work that ends up in a relatively small and pretty package!