Dr. Anders Nelson is a postdoctoral research scientist at Columbia University. Under the mentorship of Dr. Rui Costa and Dr. Mark Churchland, Dr. Nelson will elucidate the anatomical and functional organization of cortical outputs to the basal ganglia and the spinal cord, and the mechanisms by which these circuits are coordinated during movement. Specifically, Dr. Nelson will first map the organization of synapses of corticospinal neurons in the spinal cord and the striatum. He will then uncover the logic by which corticospinal neurons encode movement. Finally, he will determine how corticospinal neurons influence spinal cord circuits to shape motor output. To do this work, Dr. Nelson will utilize innovative technology, including two-photon imaging. By improving our understanding of how motor control structures are coordinated, Dr. Nelson’s work may lead to improved understanding of and treatments for movement disorders, including Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Nelson received his Bachelor of Arts from University of Virginia and his PhD from Duke University.