Hi all,

I am genetics grad student decided to diverge in neuroscience. I am currently rotating in a lab doing electrophysiology on AMPA receptors and investigating the plasticity in the schizophrenia circuity of Lateral Harbenula, NAcc, medial PFC and VTA. The work basically involve the transgenic mice with modified receptors and assaying the change in conductance properties with electrophysiology and linking it to behavior in mice and rats.

I am considering joining this lab but i have recently been doubting whether it's wise to go in this direction. Patch clamping as you know is a specialized technique that requires a set of skills and a tremendous amount of patience. The technicalities of its mere operation usually surpass one's drive for the questions of science related to it. The craft sometimes supersedes the art. The thing is that i am not entirely convinced that devoting my PhD to this is gonna be long-lasting or helpful in my future career: Since i was from a mol bio background, i chose to start with cellular and mole. neurobiology but eventually i want to diverge into systems or even cognitive neuroscience. Plus, i have been reading about the automation of the method soon. I would like to ask anybody out there with some experience in this to share his or her insights on whether the patch clamping technique is a valid way to go considering the future of the field.

Thanks,
zmnmkn