Steve Asmus was appointed Dowling Associate Professor of Biology in 2003. He has taught in the biology and biochemistry/molecular biology programs since 1996 and is a past Centre Scholar. Prior to joining the college, he held a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Neurosciences at Case Western Reserve University.
Asmus has special expertise in the field of developmental neurobiology, which focuses on how the brain develops. He describes his research as a study of the development of neurons, which are specialized types of cells found in the nervous system. The neurons produce chemicals known as neurotransmitters that make it possible for the neurons to communicate with each other.
Asmus is interested in how neurons produce the correct neurotransmitter during development. He has analyzed the neurotransmitters produced in developing sympathetic neurons, addressing the question of whether different target tissues influence this "decision" process during development.
Currently, Asmus is studying the neurotransmitters produced in the cortex of the developing brain to examine whether some cortical neurons may change the neurotransmitter that they produce as they mature. Asmus uses a variety of cell staining and microscopy techniques in his laboratory research.
Asmus encourages Centre students to collaborate with him on research. His recent collaborators include Talha Ijaz '09 (biochemistry and molecular biology), Sarah Hawkins '10 (Spanish major, biology minor), Laura Hench '12 (biochemistry and molecular biology), and D.J. Allen '13.
Asmus has published his research in journals including Brain Research (2008), Developmental Biology (1997 and 2001) and the Journal of Neuroscience (2000). The Brain Research and J. Neuroscience papers were co-authored with numerous student collaborators.
Asmus earned a B.S. degree from Cleveland State University and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, and conducted a postdoctoral fellowship in neuroscience at Case Western Reserve University before coming to Centre.
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File last updated:
9/24/09
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