Regular biography
Marc Schmidt is a Professor of Biology and Co-Director of the Undergraduate Neuroscience Program at the University of Pennsylvania's Department of Biology. His research focuses on the neural mechanisms underlying courtship display, particularly in the brown-headed cowbird, using interdisciplinary approaches that integrate computational biology and neuroethology. Schmidt's work involves developing advanced technologies such as a 'smart aviary' for tracking group behavior and collaborating with multiple departments to enhance research methodologies. He teaches courses in cellular and molecular neurobiology and the evolution of animal behavior.
Scholar-generated biography
Marc F. Schmidt is a researcher in the Department of Biology at the University of Pennsylvania, focusing on the neural mechanisms underlying vocal learning and motor control in songbirds. His work explores the role of intracellular calcium in neuronal growth cone dynamics, the influence of behavioral states on auditory processing, and the interhemispheric coordination required for song production. Schmidt's research also investigates the contributions of brainstem and forebrain regions to learned motor behaviors, as well as the neural basis of vocal motor systems. His studies integrate electrophysiological, anatomical, and behavioral approaches to understand how sensory and motor systems interact during vocal learning and production.