Circadian Rhythms Research

I am a member of the Five Colleges Biological Rhythms Group ("Clocks Club"), working with Eric Bittman (Biology, UMass-Amherst), Mary Harrington (Psychology, Smith College), C. V. Hollot (ECE, UMass-Amherst), and Hava Siegelmann (Computer Science, UMass-Amherst).

If you are an undergraduate interested in getting involved in research involving mathematics and biology, then please contact me! During summer of 2006, Emily Moin and Qingsi Zhu (undergrads at Amherst College) worked with Mary Harrington and me on analyzing experimental data on jet lag in mice and on modeling the circadian clock in the brain. No biology background is necessary.

Current topics of interest

• Mathematical modeling of transcriptional-translational feedback loops of clock genes, with special attention to the role of post-translational processes
• Modeling of the circadian system in mammals, with particular attention to the desynchrony resulting from phase shifts (jet lag)
• Understanding why hamsters often "split" their behavior rhythm when in constant light
• Modeling the light response mechanisms that allow the SCN to entrain to a light-dark cycle

Publications

Dynamics of a multistage circadian system, T. Leise and Hava Siegelmann, August 2006, Journal of Biological Rhythms.

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