Natalie Doig

After receiving a B.Sc. (Hons) in Neuroscience from the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, Natalie joined the MRC Anatomical Neuropharmacology Unit in Oxford to carry out a D.Phil. with Professor J. Paul Bolam. Her doctoral research focused on defining the cortical and thalamic inputs to striatal projection neurons and interneurons using anatomical and electrophysiological techniques.

Natalie then gained funding to undertake postdoctoral research with Professor Pablo Henny at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, where she investigated the anatomical and electrophysiological properties of neurons in motor and non-motor regions of the brainstem, in the context of health and disease. In September 2014, she returned to Oxford to work with Professor Peter Magill, where her research focused on defining the molecular, structural, and functional diversity of basal ganglia cell types and their partner circuits.

Natalie’s current research investigates cellular and molecular changes in dopamine neurons in mouse models of Parkinson’s. She combines anatomical and molecular mapping with quantitative imaging approaches to identify the cellular mechanisms that underlie the selective vulnerability of dopamine neurons in Parkinson’s.

Natalie is a strong advocate for open science and the transparent sharing of data, tools, and protocols to promote collaboration and reproducibility in neuroscience. She is also deeply committed to public engagement, serving as Co-Chair of the BNDU Public Engagement Committee regularly contributing to outreach activities and initiatives that make neuroscience accessible and relevant to diverse audiences.

Natalie is a strong advocate for open science and the transparent sharing of data, tools, and protocols to promote collaboration and reproducibility in neuroscience. She is also deeply committed to public engagement, serving as Co-Chair of the BNDU Public Engagement Committee and regularly contributes to outreach activities and initiatives that make neuroscience accessible and relevant to diverse audiences.

Key Research Areas

• Cellular and molecular mechanisms of Parkinson’s pathogenesis
• Organelle dysfunction and neuronal vulnerability
• Structural and molecular diversity of basal ganglia neurons
• Synaptic organisation of basal ganglia and motor-related circuits

Research Techniques

• Generation and use of in vivo mouse models to assay cellular changes in disease
• Immunohistochemistry and molecular profiling
• High-resolution imaging and quantitative microscopy techniques
• Ultrastructural analyses using electron microscopy
• Data wrangling, image quantification, and statistical analyses