Laurea Marie Diaz
Academic Address
Division
of Pharmacology and Toxicology
1
University Station A1915
The
University of Texas at Austin
(512)
471-1018
Email:
laurea@mail.utexas.edu
Formal Education
Doctor of Philosophy, Pharmacy, Neuropharmacology
The University of Texas at Austin- currently pursuing
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
(with honors and
a concentration in Biochemistry)
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, August 1995-February 1999
Laboratory Experience
Research Assistant/ Graduate Student
University of Texas, at Austin, Austin, TX
June 1999-present
- Virus development to
express Dopamine D1 receptors in explants that are exposed to ethanol.
- Imaging techniques such
as confocal and multi-photon microscopy.
- Microdialysis to
quantitate acetaldehyde in the nucleus accumbens after ethanol exposure.
- Microdialysis of
ethanol self-administrating rats, with analysis of dopamine and ethanol
concentrations in the nucleus accumbens. Using high-pressure liquid
chromatography and gas chromatography.
Research Assistant
University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester MA
January 1999-May 1999
Research in ligand synthesis for Magnetic Resonance
Imaging (MRI). Additional work with behavioral models including T-mazes, water
mazes, and aggression studies.
National Institute of Health Fellowship
University of Massachusetts Medical Center,
Worcester MA
June1998- August1998
Research including studies of microdialysis of
neurotensin, studies in Prozac, and activity analysis for pseudo-neurotensin
amino acids. Methods such as immunohistochemistry, radioimmuno assays,
microdialysis, and amino acid analyzers were utilized.
Scientific
Presentations/Bibliography
1.
2001 Research Society on Alcoholism, Montreal,
primary author poster presentation: ìCONCURRENT ANALYSIS OF INTRACEREBRAL ETHANOL LEVELS
AND LICKING BEHAVIOUR IN RATS DURING LIMITED ACCESS TO ETHANOL.î
2.
2002 Research Society
on Alcoholism, San Francisco, primary author poster presentation: ìQUANTIFYING
ACETALDEHYDE IN THE NUCLEUS ACCUMBENS AFTER ETHANOL INJECTION USING
MICRODIALYSIS.î
3. 2002 Society of Neuroscience, Orlando, third author poster presentation: ìSINDBIS VIRUS- MEDIATED DELIVERY OF GFP LABELED DOPAMINE TRANSPORTER INTO NEURONAL CELLSî
4.
2003 Research
Society on Alcoholism, Fort Lauderdale primary author poster
presentation: îSINDBIS VIRAL DELIVERY OF eGFP
LABELLED DOPAMINE D1 RECEPTORS INTO PRIMARY CULTURED NEURONS, BRAIN SLICE
CULTURE AND IN VIVO.î