We bite into, adeptly manipulate, and crunch foods without inflicting self-injury. Our dentition and supporting structures routinely tolerate extreme forces of mastication, yet they also allow us to discern minuscule changes in bite and unanticipated hard particulates in food. We hardly notice these forces in normal chewing function; however, if the teeth are damaged and the dental pulps become inflamed, their sensory input is altered and we begin to experience excruciating pain – the toothache.
In thinking about these phenomena, we also wonder: What makes the tongue and lips profoundly sensitive to touch? How do common components (i.e., sensory neurons) provide us with unique sensations from distinct tissues? What makes our mouth feel dry? Why is tooth pain exquisite? And how do we inherently “know” the position of our teeth, jaws, and tongue when we eat and speak?
The Emrick lab is interested in answering these types of questions (and others) by studying the molecules, cells, and circuitry of the sensory nervous system innervating the mouth, head, and neck. To this end we use a number of state-of-the-art techniques to study trigeminal somatosensory neurons including 1) multiround, multiplex in situ hybridization and machine learning algorithm-guided transcriptional classification, 2) viral and genetic approaches for tracing connectivity and manipulating function using opto-/chemogenetics, and 3) an in vivo imaging platform to monitor responses to oral tissue stimulation at single-cell resolution. Above all, we want to understand how the sensory nervous system encodes oral and craniofacial information, contributes to normal tissue function, and ultimately drives reflexes and perceptions.
Trigeminal ganglion imaging: Oral stimulation evokes response of sensory neurons
Dr. Joshua Emrick is an assistant professor in the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences & Prosthodontics at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. He was awarded his D.D.S. and Ph.D. in oral and craniofacial biology from the University of California - San Francisco School of Dentistry, completing his dissertation with Dr. David Julius (Nobel Prize, 2021). Prior to joining Michigan, Dr. Emrick conducted his postdoctoral studies as a Dental Clinical Research Fellow at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) with Dr. Nicholas Ryba.
Dr. Emrick is a U-M Biological Sciences Scholar (2021) and has support from a NIDCR Career Transition Award (K22) and a RE-JOIN Consortium Award (UC2).
The Emrick lab is actively recruiting members to join our budding research group on Central Campus.
We will have open positions at the level of technician and postdoctoral fellow. These opportunities would be well-suited for recent college graduates interested in an immersive research experience and/or soon-to-be PhDs with degrees in neuroscience or biomedical sciences.
Importantly, lab members are expected contribute to a culture that embraces curiosity, integrity, excitement, respect, and cooperation. We will do our best to enjoy working hard together.
If you are excited about joining our group, please contact Dr. Joshua Emrick (jjemrick@umich.edu) with an up-to-date CV as well as a cover letter describing your research interest, relevant experience, and career goals. Feel free to forward as appropriate.
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