Email

arenkiel@bcm.edu

Positions

Professor

Molecular and Human Genetics
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX US

Professor

Neuroscience
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas United States

Faculty Investigator

Children's Nutrition Research Center, BCM
USDA-ARS, BCM
Houston, Texas United States

Education

Postdoctoral Fellowship at HHMI-Duke University

11/2010 - Durham, North Carolina United States

PhD from University Of Utah School of Medicine

10/2004 - Salt Lake City, Utah United States

BS from St. Cloud State University

06/1998 - St. Cloud, Minnesota United States

Honors & Awards

TAMEST O'Donell Award in Medicine

Kenneth Scott Outstanding Mentorship Award

Michael E. DeBakey Excellence in Research Award

Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Faculty Excellence Award

Marc Dresden Award for Excellence in Graduate Education

Norman Hackerman Advanced Research Program Award

Klingenstein-Simons Fellowship Award in the Neurosciences

NARSAD Independent Investigator Award

Simmons Foundation CRF Award

McNair Scholar in Neuroscience

Brain & Behavior Res. Fndn. Alan Dutka Investigator

NARSAD Young Investigator Award

NINDS K99/R00 Career Transition Award

Professional Statement

The main focus of our research is to elucidate the basic mechanisms that guide the formation and maintenance of neural circuits in the mammalian brain. Using the mouse, we apply multifaceted experimental approaches that combine genetic engineering, optical imaging and electrophysiological recording techniques to better understand synapse and circuit function.

The blueprints for most neural circuits are specified by innate, genetic mechanisms. However, circuit architecture and function can be strongly influenced by neural activity and sensory experience. Towards better understanding the interplay between experience, synaptic connectivity and circuit function, we are currently pursuing three main projects in our laboratory: 1) Identifying activity dependent- and neuropeptide signaling mechanisms that underlie synaptogenesis and circuit formation of adult-born neurons. 2) mapping functional connectivity of brain circuits, with emphasis on the olfactory system, basal forebrain and hypothalamus. 3) elucidating signaling and circuit mechanisms that govern feeding behavior.

The long-term goal of our research is to form a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that guide synapse and circuit formation, with the ultimate hope of gaining insight towards repairing or replacing damaged or diseased nervous tissue. At the heart of this experimentation is the continued effort to develop novel tools and techniques to mark and manipulate neurons and their associated circuits.

Websites

Selected Publications

• Chin PS, Ding Z, Kochukov M, Srivastava S, Moss EH, Tong Q, Arenkiel BR. "Glutamatergic projection neurons in the basal forebrain underlie learned olfactory associational valence assignments.." Nat Commun.. 2026 Jan 16;17(1) Pubmed PMID: 41850420
• Srivastava S, Wang IC, Kochukov MY, Swanson JL, Costa-Mattioli M, Arenkiel BR. "Glutamatergic lateral habenula neurons modulate consolidation of associative memories.." Front Behav Neurosci.. 2025 Jul;19 Pubmed PMID: 40799491
• Moss EH, Tantry EK, Le E, Chin PS, Ambrosi P, Brandel-Ankrapp KL, Arenkiel BR. "Moss EH, Tantry EK, Le E, Chin PS, Ambrosi P, Brandel-Ankrapp KL, Arenkiel BR.." J Neurosci.. 2025 Mar;45(13) Pubmed PMID: 39965928
• Ortiz-Guzman J, Swanson JL, Tantry EK, Kochukov M, Ung K, Addison AP, Srivastava S, Belfort BD, Ji E, Dooling SW, Chen SA, Tong Q, Arenkiel BR. "Cholinergic Basal Forebrain Connectivity to the Basolateral Amygdala Modulates Food Intake.." eNeuro. 2024 Mar;11(3) Pubmed PMID: 38383587

Funding

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NIH

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Department of Defense

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USDA-ARS

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ASAP