General Information
Biography
The Wong lab is currently funded by the National Science Foundation.I am actively seeking graduate students interested in the neuromolecular basis of behavior.
Teaching Interests
Neurobiology
Research Interests
Animals interact with each other and the environment in variable and often adaptive ways. I am broadly interested in understanding the causes and consequences of variation of complex animal behaviors. Specifically my current research efforts focus on understanding the behavioral, neural, molecular, and neurotranscriptomic mechanisms that underlie variation in how animals cope with stress. I am also interested in understanding how an individual’s stress coping style influences behavioral and neuromolecular responses in other contexts (e.g. learning and memory). To address these interests, I utilize an integrative approach that draws on principles and methodologies from behavioral ecology, neuroethology, molecular neuroscience, and bioinformatics. Visit my lab website above for additional details regarding my research and opportunities to join my lab.
Awards and Honors
College of Arts and Sciences Research and Creative Activity Award, Scholarship/Research - 2021
Education
BS, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, Biology, Natural Resources, Ecology and Evolution, 2005
Ph D, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, 2011
Scholarship/Research/Creative Activity
Selected Publications
Baker, Matthew, Wong, Ryan. 2021. Npas4a expression in the teleost forebrain is associated with stress coping style differences in fear learning, Scientific Reports.
Goodman, Alexander, Wong, Ryan. 2020. Differential effects of ethanol on behavior and GABAA receptor expression in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) with alternative stress coping styles, Scientific Reports.
Baker, Matthew, Wong, Ryan. 2019. Contextual fear learning and memory differ between stress coping styles in zebrafish, Scientific Reports.
Wong, Ryan, French, Jeffrey, Russ, Jacalyn. 2019. Differences in stress reactivity between zebrafish with alternative stress coping styles, Royal Society Open Science, 6, 181797.
Baker, Matthew, Goodman, Alexander, Santo, Jonathan, Wong, Ryan. 2018. Repeatability and reliability of exploratory behavior in proactive and reactive zebrafish, Danio rerio, Scientific Reports.
Externally Funded Research
CAREER: Impact of stress coping style on cognitive processes and the underlying neuromolecular mechanisms, National Science Foundation, Federal, 03/01/2020 - 02/28/2025
MRI: Acquisition of an Illumina NextSeq 550 System to Support Genomic Research and Research Training at University of Nebraska at Omaha, National Science Foundation, Federal, 10/01/2019 - 09/30/2022
Mechanisms of Stress Coping, National Institutes of Health, Federal, 08/01/2017 - 07/31/2021
Neuromolecular mechanism of stress, Nebraska EPSCoR, State Agencies, 04/01/2017 - 03/31/2018
Service
Professional
Royal Society Open Science, Editor, Associate Editor, Assess quality of scientific study and suitability for publication in peer-reviewed journal., 02/01/2018 - present
Scientific Reports, Editor, Associate Editor, Assess quality of scientific study and suitability for publication in peer-reviewed journal., 06/01/2019 - present