Research areas
It is my goal to pursue a career in academia and research. I have a strong interest in translational neurobiology fostered during my graduate training at Wilfrid Laurier University and the Hotchkiss Brain Institute. I am particularly interested in plasticity of spinal networks that contribute to gait abnormalities observed following stroke, concussion, and Parkinson’s disease. It is therefore my short-term goal during my postdoctoral studies to adopt in vitro approaches to study spinal circuits of adult rodents. I have a cross-cutting blend of experiences that have exposed me to animal, human and industrial applications of biomedical technology. These experiences would allow for me to explore neuro-plasticity in human motor systems using non-invasive neurophysiological methods and follow up using animal models that afford more invasive approaches for in depth mechanistic investigation. In addition to research, I also have a passion for teaching and mentorship. It is my goal to develop a research program of my own that will be complimented by teaching motor systems physiology at undergraduate and graduate levels.
PhD supervision
- Giulia Benedetta Calabrese
- Struan Nisbet
Selected publications
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Open access
Contributions of h- and Na+ /K+ pump currents to the generation of episodic and continuous rhythmic activities
Sharples, S. A., Parker, J., Vargas, A., Milla-Cruz, J. J., Lognon, A. P., Cheng, N., Young, L., Shonak, A., Cymbalyuk, G. S. & Whelan, P. J., 4 Feb 2022, In: Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience. 15, 21 p., 715427.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Maturation of persistent and hyperpolarization-activated inward currents shapes the differential activation of motoneuron subtypes during postnatal development
Sharples, S. A. & Miles, G. B., 3 Dec 2021, In: eLife. 10, e71385.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
A dynamic role for dopamine receptors in the control of mammalian spinal networks
Sharples, S. A., Burma, N. E., Borowska-Fielding, J., Kwok, C. H. T., Eaton, S. E. A., Baker, G. B., Jean-Xavier, C., Zhang, Y., Trang, T. & Whelan, P. J., 2 Oct 2020, In: Scientific Reports. 10, 23 p., 16429.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review