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Marcelo Rigon Zimmer, PhD, BS

Postdoctoral Associate

About

Titles

Postdoctoral Associate

Biography

I hold a BS in Pharmacy (PUCRS, Brazil) and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry (UFRGS, Brazil). I was awarded the best Ph.D. thesis in Biomedical Sciences II in 2020 (Prêmio Capes de Tese) in Brazil. I was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Graduate Program of Biological Science: Biochemistry (UFRGS, Brazil). Currently, I am a Postdoctoral Associate in Departamento of Comparative Medicine at Yale University.

Education & Training

PhD
UFRGS (2019)
BS
PUCRS, Brazil (2012)

Research

Overview

In my Ph.D. studies, I questioned the role of hypothalamic hunger-promoting Agrp neurons beyond its canonic role. In these studies, we found that Agrp neurons play a role in stereotypical behavior using transgenic mouse models. These findings provide new insights into metabolic disorders and psychiatric diseases that exhibit dysregulation of energy balance and stereotypical behaviors. We also identified a new role of Agrp neurons in contributing to the infant's bonding to the mother in neonatal mice. These findings revealed a hidden neuronal mechanism of the ontogeny of social relationships in mammals. Currently, I am interested in understanding how the infant develops a unique bond with the mother. I am studying infant behavior in different rodent species (mouse, rat, and guinea pig). I am conducting behavioral studies and using state-of-the-art neuroscience techniques to identify the underlying mechanisms mediating the infant's bonding to the mother.

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of Marcelo Rigon Zimmer's published research.

Publications

2019

2015

2014

Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

  • honor

    Best Ph.D. thesis in Biomedical Sciences II in 2020