A.E.

Neuroscience · Temple University

Research

My dissertation work sits at the intersection of neuromodulation and repair after spinal cord injury.

Overview

My dissertation asks how descending brainstem input shapes spinal motor circuits, and how that input can be restored after spinal cord injury. The work combines circuit manipulation, stem cell biology, and quantitative analysis of movement.

Affiliations

Dr. George Smith, Ph.D.

Primary advisor

In vivo systems neuroscience: viral engineering, stereotactic surgery, chemogenetics, SCI models.

Dr. Seonhee Kim, Ph.D.

Co-advisor

Stem cell biology and organoid engineering.

Dr. Andrew Spence, Ph.D.

Co-advisor

Kinematics and computational modeling.

Temple University

Biomedical Science PhD, Neuroscience concentration

Lewis Katz School of Medicine. Third year.

Presentations

Presenting author marked with *.

  1. 2024

    Yap is required for neuroepithelium and cortical layer development.

    England, AC*, Park R, Estarás C, Kim S.

    Human Development & 3D Brain Modeling, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA.

  2. 2024

    Yap is required for neuroepithelium and cortical layer development.

    England, AC*, Park R, Estarás C, Kim S.

    23rd Annual Dawn Marks Research Day, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

  3. 2024

    Genetic method to selectively lesion axons or prune axonal terminals.

    Smith, GM, Rajavong, J, Chen, J, England, AC, Qin, X.

    Society for Neuroscience 2024, Chicago, IL, USA.

  4. 2022

    Cannabinoid Receptor Interacting Protein 1a (CRIP1a): Function as a Gαi Carrier.

    Hughes, EK, Kabler, SL, England, AC, Clodfelter, JE, Lowther, WT, Howlett, AC.

    32nd Annual Symposium on the Cannabinoids, International Cannabinoid Research Society, Galway, Ireland.

  5. 2022

    Giα and β Proteins Associate in a Complex with Cannabinoid Receptor Interacting Protein 1a (CRIP1a).

    Hughes, EK, England, AC, Kabler, SL, Lowther, WT, Howlett, AC.

    Experimental Biology 2022, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

  6. 2021

    CRIP1a exhibits differential binding with G protein subtypes.

    England, AC*, Hughes, EK, Lowther, WT, Howlett, AC.

    Wake Forest University Undergraduate Research Day, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.

Long-term goals

After the PhD, I'm headed into industry: biomedical, biotech, or AI companies, or consulting for them. I want to work where scientific judgment has to turn into a product, a strategy, or a decision.

My dissertation spans in vivo circuit manipulation, rodent behavior, biomechanics, and quantitative data analysis. I avidly incorporate agentic AI into my workflows, with the goal of leveraging AI to advance biomedical and life sciences research.