Dissertation Title: Mapping the Spatial Transcriptome Across Whole Organisms

Abstract: 

This study utilizes expansion sequencing (ExSeq) to thoroughly investigate the spatial transcriptome of the Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) organism. Beyond mapping gene distribution within individual specimens, this research sequences multiple C. elegans to identify both shared and distinct transcriptomic features. The findings lay crucial groundwork for future integration of transcriptomic data with in situ connectomics and in vivo neural activity recordings. Understanding the spatial transcriptome in C. elegans is vital for insights into neural circuit coordination, disease mechanisms, and developmental biology.

Committee members:
Joseph M. Jacobson
Associate Professor, Media Arts and Sciences, MIT

Edward S. Boyden
Professor, Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Media Arts and Sciences, and Biological Engineering, MIT

Steve Flavell
Associate Professor, Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, MIT