Graduate education

Ph.D. in Lighting: Introduction: Related research projects

Students enrolled in the Ph.D. in Architectural Sciences with a Concentration in Lighting will undertake unique research under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Below is a summary of a recent lighting-related dissertation project completed by a student in Rensselaer's Multidisciplinary Science program. It is an example of the kind of research that can be conducted in the Architectural Sciences program.

Dissertation - John Bullough

Title:	Exploring mechanisms for circadian phototransduction in Mus musculus using light spectrum
Adviser:	Prof. Robert Parsons (Biology)
Abstract:	Like all living organisms, domestic mice (Mus musculus) exhibit regular, nearly-24-hour (circadian) cycles of rest and activity, even in the presence of continuous darkness. Ocular exposure to light can advance (cause to occur earlier) or delay (cause to occur later) locomotor activity, depending upon the time of day light is provided. Using phase delay of the locomotor activity rhythm as a measure of the impact of light on the circadian system of Mus musculus, animals were exposed to various irradiances (~1 to 20 μW/cm2) at three different wavelengths (350, 470 and 525 nm: 350 nm from ultraviolet fluorescent lamps; 470 and 525 nm from light emitting diodes), individually and in combination. The responses, as well as the known physiology of Mus musculus, were consistent with a mechanism for circadian phototransduction that obeys univariance, with phase delays from combined wavelength stimuli predicted in an additive manner by the phase delays elicited by individual wavelengths. The spectral sensitivity predicted by the present data and the physiology of this species also support the role of a photosensitive retinal ganglion cell, most likely containing melanopsin, as participating in circadian phototransduction in Mus musculus.

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