12 ACUMEN • SPRING 2025 up so much time. And it works with so many different types of tissues, not just brains.” Snyder can work within a cell—zooming in and out in high resolution or rotating it to assign labels and color to cells, synapses, axons, and terminals for differentiation. She can also determine cellular boundaries (e.g., where axons and synaptic terminals start and end) and mark uncertainties with virtual questions on the cell or notes for later team reviews. The collected data can then be easily exported into Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. Beyond the research applications, the lab offers advanced experiential learning opportunities. Snyder says the experiences in the lab will help her when she continues to a graduate program. A native of Ghana, Owusu-Nyantakyi came to Lehigh from Knox College and says the lab supports him as he continues to hone his research skills. “I have enjoyed working in the Burger lab,” Owusu-Nyantakyi says. “I have acquired skills such as patch clamp techniques and using VR systems to analyze data that I would not have been able to get in any other lab. I find SyGlass technology very cool because it allows me to visually interact with my data in ways I have not experienced throughout my science career. This has greatly improved my work as it is now easy to visualize and analyze my data in real time, which saves me a lot of time to work on my other graduate work. I also think it is a great tool for undergraduate research, as it is very engaging and keeps you coming back to work on your data. I have also found that it is a great teaching tool for visualizing biological structures in their complexity. Additionally, working with Mike has been great. I have been able to present at conferences and definitely grown as a scientist.” Burger’s lab exemplifies the synergy between traditional scientific expertise and emerging technologies. Burger remains cautiously optimistic about the future. “Sometimes as a scientist, I’m afraid to talk too prospectively about things that may or may not work,” he says. Yet, the strides already made— from gene manipulation in embryos to VR-based synaptic analysis—underscore the transformative potential of his work. The journey ahead is filled with unanswered questions. How do developmental processes in the ear shape the brain’s auditory capabilities? Can the principles uncovered in the chicken model be translated to human health? And what new technologies will emerge to further unravel these mysteries? For now, Burger’s lab continues to chart new territory, driven by curiosity and a commitment to advancing our understanding of the brain. “We’re finally getting to some of the bigger questions,” Burger says. The possibilities are as expansive as the intricate networks of the brain itself. ● Audrey Snyder uses SyGlass VR goggles to analyze a cell (right). Kwame Owusu-Nyantakyl and Snyder (below). CHRISTINE KRESCHOLLEK
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