https://www.science.org/content/article/superpowered-bats-keep-their-hearing-they-age
Reflecting on 2023
As the year came to a close, we spent some time as a lab reflecting on our accomplishments (and challenges) from the past year. We were fortunate to receive some grants and supplements to grants from the NIA and NIDCD to support new projects. Postdoc Kali Burke published a manuscript detailing our open source software for ABR wave analysis, our collaboration with the Fuchs lab demonstrating the first ever gene therapy to boost the protective medial olivocochlear efferent auditory system was published, and we contributed to several human temporal bone papers. Three more manuscripts are in review! The postdocs, undergrads, and med students have been super productive with data collection this year, so we’re working on several more. We also taught, mentored summer students, reviewed grants and papers, and worked out some new (for us) tissue processing protocols. One postdoc welcomed a baby into the world, and has had success in the job market. Oh, and Amanda received the OHNS Faculty Mentoring Award, which means so much coming from her colleagues.
There are probably some things we forgot to mention, and of course there were some disappointments (unfunded grants!), but we had a great year all in all. Amanda is so thankful to work with such a wonderful team of scientists from across the career spectrum. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
2023 is off to a busy start! We welcomed new postdoc Dr. Yassine Balhi to the lab to work on our newly funded human temporal bone resource project. We’re also in full swing preparing for presentations at ARO (Mondul, Kobrina, Burke, Capshaw).
We had several papers accepted since Sept:
Also, Postdoc Dr. Kali burke was awarded an F32 NRSA from the NIDCD for her work assessing auditory outcomes after head-impact injury. Congrats, Kali!
2022 news
Whoa, we’ve been so busy we haven’t posted any 2022 news yet!
We’re thrilled to announce that postdoc Kali Burke was awarded an F32 NRSA from the NIDCD to support her research on the auditory effects of TBI.
Postdoc Sergio Vicencio Jimenez was awarded a Postdoctoral Research Accelerator Award from JHU
Postdoc Grace Capshaw (joint with the Moss Lab) received a Young Investigator award from the International Neuroethology Society for her PhD thesis work on salamander hearing.
We welcomed new postdoc Jane Mondul to the lab and welcomed staff scientist Catherine Graham. back to JHU, as well as a bunch of undergrads!
Sergio and Amanda had a blast teaching in the Biology of the Inner Ear course in Woods Hole, and Amanda enjoyed teaching international students in the Neurobiology of Hearing course in Salamanca, Spain!
We’ve had a bunch of papers come out thanks to our fabulous people!
Andresen NS, Kehoe Winslow M, Gregg L, Seal SM, Lehar M, Ward BK, Lauer AM (2022). Insights into presbycusis from the first temporal bone laboratory within the United States. Otol Neurotol, 43(3):400-408.
Kim Y, Schrode KM, Engel J, Vicencio-Jimenez S, Rodriguez G, Lee H, Lauer AM (2022). Auditory behavior in adult-blinded mice. J Assoc Res Otolatyngol, 23, 225-239.
Burke K, Screven LA, Kobrina A, Charlton PE, Schrode K, Villavisanis DF, Dent ML, Lauer AM (2022). Effects of noise exposure and aging on behavioral tone detection in quiet and noise by mice. eNeuro, 9 (3) ENEURO.0391-21.2022
Capshaw G, Vicencio-Jimenez S, Screven LA, Burke K, Weinberg M, Lauer AM (in press). Physiological evidence for delayed age-related hearing loss in two long-lived rodent species (Peromyscus leucopus and P. californicus). J Assoc Res Otolatyngol.
Whew! It's been a hectic Fall. Here's what we have been up to:
Nick Andresen’s aging human temporal bone paper came out:
Madison’s and Naz’s paper on deaf bats came out (Yes! They can be deaf!):
Grace won an award at the JB Johnston meeting for her dissertation on salamander hearing (we take no credit).
Neuroscience PhD student Andrew Du joined the lab for a research rotation.
We gave lectures, we made plans for new experiments, we built two setups out of scavenged bits and pieces, and we submitted three other papers that are in various states of revision, proofs, etc. Time for a few days off!
We're hiring a staff scientist!
Senior Auditory Research Specialist
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
An auditory phenotyping and imaging core in the Johns Hopkins Department of Otolaryngology-HNS is seeking an experienced person to fill a Senior Auditory Research Specialist (staff scientist) to perform auditory phenotyping experiments and coordinate confocal microscopy for a group of hearing scientists. The Senior Research Specialist will work under the general supervision of faculty investigators in the Center for Hearing and Balance and will be part of an intellectually and culturally diverse work environment.
The Senior Research Specialist is expected to have an in-depth understanding of auditory research to carry out independent experiments and projects. The research involves collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to be included in scientific manuscripts in collaboration with multiple hearing research laboratories. Experience in auditory evoked potential measurement and confocal microscopy skills is desired, and the ability to teach these skills one-on-one or in small groups is important. Participation in research conferences is encouraged, and there are opportunities to perform self-guided experiments within the context of the main laboratory projects. There is also potential for authorship.
Scientists with PhDs are encouraged to apply, but applicants with appropriate experience without a PhD will be considered. For more information contact Amanda Lauer at alauer2@jhmi.edu. To apply, please visit:
https://jobs.jhu.edu/job/Baltimore-Senior-Auditory-Research-Specialist-MD-21205/782628800/ or search for Requisition 62186 at jobs.jhu.edu.
Postdoc Sergio Vicencio Jimenez's new paper on aging and the olivocochlear system is out!
A pandemic project! Check it out!
Olivocochlear changes associated with aging predominantly affect the medial olivocochlear system
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2021.704805/full#:~:text=Olivocochlear%20Changes%20Associated%20With%20Aging%20Predominantly%20Affect%20the%20Medial%20Olivocochlear%20System,-Sergio%20Vicencio%2DJimenez&text=Age%2Drelated%20hearing%20loss%20(ARHL,elevated%20risk%20of%20developing%20dementia.
Postdoctoral positions available
The Glowatzki and Lauer labs have open positions for postdoctoral fellows to investigate the mechanisms of afferent synaptic transmission in the mammalian cochlea and the role of the olivocochlear efferent system on auditory nerve fiber activity. Secondly, effects of abnormal acoustic experience on afferent and efferent activity are investigated, to gain insights into possible approaches to prevent hearing loss. Projects are ongoing in the areas of environmental sound experience and aging.
The Glowatzki and Lauer labs collaborate closely to implement an array of techniques to investigate peripheral and central components of the olivocochlear circuit, including electrophysiology in mouse models (evoked potentials, cellular physiology/patch clamp, optogenetic stimulation, calcium imaging), anatomy (immunohistochemistry, confocal and electron microscopy), and behavior (acoustic startle, operant conditioning, noise avoidance, etc.). We also integrate optogenetic and chemogenetic manipulations into functional studies of the olivocochlear system. The ideal candidates will have experience in one or more of these techniques and a working knowledge of the auditory system.
In addition to experimental techniques, postdocs will receive training in dissemination of research, grant writing, research integrity, managing collaborations, and other aspects relevant to professional development. Postdoctoral fellows receive a stipend and benefits consistent with current NIH guidelines and university policies. Applicants should have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in neuroscience, biology, biopsychology, or related field. Initial appointment will be for one year with possible extension based on performance and availability of funding. Postdocs are part of our large and highly collaborative Center for Hearing and Balance, comprised of members from Otolaryngology-HNS, Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, and Psychological and Brain Science departments.
Interested candidates should submit a CV and cover letter to Amanda Lauer alauer2@jhmi.edu and Elisabeth Glowatzki eglowat1@jhmi.edu. For more information about the labs, the center, and postdoctoral affairs at Johns Hopkins, please visit:
https://neuroscience.jhu.edu/research/faculty/32
Our paper on why naked mole rats have poor hearing sensitivity is out in Current Biology!
This was a fun collaboration across multiple labs. NMRs could be a new model for hearing loss!
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0960982220311891
Dr. Lauer receives secondary appointment to the Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience
Dr. Lauer is excited to have a secondary appointment to the Dept. of Neuroscience at JHU! She’ll now be able to accept graduate students and interact more closely with Neuroscience colleagues. Exciting!