Ariel Levine
About Ariel Levine
Ariel Levine is a Tenure Track Investigator at the National Institutes of Health, specializing in mouse genetics and neuronal contributions to movement and motor learning. He leads the Spinal Circuits and Plasticity Unit and employs advanced techniques such as single cell sequencing to study spinal cord responses to behavior and disease.
Work at National Institutes of Health
Ariel Levine has been a Tenure Track Investigator at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since 2015. In this role, Levine leads the Spinal Circuits and Plasticity Unit at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The research focuses on understanding how descending pathways from the brain interact with specific spinal cord populations to facilitate coordinated movements. Levine employs advanced techniques, including mouse genetics and cell type-specific manipulations, to explore neuronal contributions to movement and motor learning.
Education and Expertise
Ariel Levine holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Brandeis University, where studies were completed from 1996 to 2000. Levine furthered education by obtaining a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from Joan & Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University, studying from 2000 to 2009. Levine also earned a PhD in Developmental Biology and Embryology from The Rockefeller University, completing the program from 2002 to 2008. This educational background provides a strong foundation in both medical and biological sciences.
Research Focus
Levine's research primarily investigates cell-type specific changes in the spinal cord in response to behavior or disease. The work includes developing new bio-informatic approaches for analyzing single-cell spinal cord data. By utilizing single-cell sequencing, Levine maps cell types within the mammalian spinal cord, contributing to a deeper understanding of spinal cord function and its role in movement.
Professional Experience
Since joining the NIH in 2015, Ariel Levine has accumulated extensive experience in neuroscience research. The focus on employing mouse genetics and specific manipulations of cell types has allowed for significant insights into neuronal behavior. Levine's role as a Tenure Track Investigator involves leading a research unit dedicated to exploring the complexities of spinal cord circuits and their plasticity, furthering the field of neurological disorders.