(4aq) Simulations of Chemical Signaling and Homeostasis in Neurological Systems

I am interested in understanding chemical signaling and dynamics within neurological systems, which I see as the physiological framework of the brain and peripheral nervous system that allows life to exist as we know it. An improved understanding of the chemical signaling and homeostatic processes of this neurological framework will help in understanding functional neurological processes as well as the effects of various states or conditions including addiction, depression, traumatic injury, and dementia. Although recent work has provided many insights into the biochemical pathways and roles of important neurochemicals, reactions and chemical interactions are functions of chemical concentrations and synaptic activity can change these concentrations rapidly, complicating measurements and analyses. Chemical engineering concepts can be put to good use to study these dynamics in the brain and peripheral nervous system, particularly by simulating chemical transport and reactions in the extracellular spaces. With the continuing improvement of commercial finite element solvers we can now model the transport (including diffusive, electrophoretic, convective, and via membrane proteins) and reactions of neurochemicals in cellular and extracellular spaces of the brain using images of real tissues to construct realistic simulation domains. This type of modeling allows us to specify the details of individual neurochemical dynamics according to our existing knowledge of the brain so that we can confirm the hypothesis of experimental work and investigate theoretically any chemical processes that are difficult to observe experimentally. These simulations will offer a novel and necessary perspective for studying neurological systems and are expected to lead to breakthroughs in the analysis of neurochemical data and the understanding of healthy, damaged, and dysfunctional neurological systems.

I plan to begin by simulating individually the dynamics of glutamate, acetylcholine, and hydrogen peroxide. Specifically, I will investigate (1) the proposed mechanisms of synaptic glutamate release and subsequent diffusion and signaling beyond the synapse, (2) the accuracies of choline and acetylcholine sensors in measuring acetylcholine in vivo, and (3) the neuromodulatory capabilities of H₂O₂ in neurological systems considering the homeostatic production and regulation mechanisms. Further work will continue to aid in the analysis of collected neurochemical data and in the elucidation of how chemical transport dynamics affect neurological function.

Ph.D. Dissertation: Modeling and Simulations of Electroenzymatic Sensors in vitro and in the Brain

Education and Affiliations

Northeastern University Postdoctoral Research Associate, Aug. 2021-present

UCLA Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Mar. 2021

Seattle University BS, Chemistry, Minor in Mathematics, Dec. 2011

Awards and Fellowships

Northeastern University Future Faculty Fellowship (2021)

Postdoctoral research position to develop the Fellow’s proposed research projects.

UCLA Inaugural Eudaimonia Award (2018)

Award given to UCLA community members for exemplifying lives of purpose and meaning.

UCLA Eugene Cota-Robles Fellowship (2012)

Promoting diversity in PhD students pursuing academic careers.

Outstanding Senior Chemistry Major, Seattle University (2011)

Publications

6. Clay, H.G. Monbouquette. “Simulations of glutamate sensor performance in 3 dimensions highlight the benefits of sensor miniaturization for improved sensitivity and spatial resolution” (expected 2021)
7. Clay, H.G. Monbouquette. “Simulated performance of electroenzymatic glutamate biosensors in vivoilluminates the complex connection to calibration in vitro” (in revision, ACS Chem. Neurosci. 2021)
8. W Huang,* M. Clay,* Y. Cao, J. Nie, Y. Guo, H.G. Monbouquette. 2021. “Electroenzymatic choline sensing at near the theoretical performance limit” Analyst 2021, 146 (3), 1040-1047 *co-primary authors
9. -W. Huang, M. Clay, S. Wang, Y. Guo, J. Nie, H.G. Monbouquette. 2020. “Electroenzymatic glutamate sensing at near the theoretical performance limit” Analyst 145, 2602-2611
10. Clay, H.G. Monbouquette. 2018. “A detailed model of electroenzymatic glutamate biosensors to aid in sensor optimization and in applications in vivo” ACS Chem. Neurosci.9(2):241–51
11. Langenhan, J. M.; McLaughlin, R. P.; Loskot, S. A.; Rozal, L. M.; Clay, M. S.; Alaimo, P. J. 2016. “Using density functional theory to calculate the anomeric effect in hydroxylamine and hydrazide derivatives of tetrahydropyran” Carbohydr. Res. 35, 106-117.

Teaching Interests:

Teaching as a TA was a highlight of my time as a PhD candidate, and I greatly look forward to more opportunities to teach. As a lead instructor, I plan to focus on engaging students through frequent polling coupled with small-group discussions, developing communication skills by requiring written and verbal explanations or justifications, and prompting deep thinking by the incorporation of real-world complications that encourage thinking beyond the limits of the standard equations taught in undergraduate texts. Overall, I believe that broadly available online resources should be fundamentally incorporated into assignments and assessment, and I recognize that there are great opportunities for this both inside and outside the classroom, as I believe we have all seen in the past year through our own growth in teaching online.

I have had the privilege of teaching as a TA at UCLA in heat and momentum transport courses, separations, and in a chemical engineering unit operations lab, for which I received excellent student evaluations. In these courses I worked under multiple instructors, exposing me to different perspectives and attitudes towards course management and teaching and allowing me to observe the respective strengths of these strategies from a TA’s unique point of view. I have also observed first-hand the positive effects of creating an inclusive and inviting environment and I will make openness and inclusivity a priority in my mentoring and teaching. Even at the college level, I think it is important to praise good work and provide positive encouragement wherever possible. I believe this will help my future students leave my classes feeling confident in their abilities and truly able to succeed.

CV and complete research, teaching, and diversity statements are available upon request.