Acknowledgements

I am indebted to my former research advisor Dan Geschwind, director of the Neurogenetics Program at the UCLA Department of Neurology, for mentoring me in his laboratory during my undergraduate education, for instilling within me a love for both science and medicine, and for starting me along the path toward my future career. I would like to acknowledge Susi Sobrido, at the time a postdoctoral research fellow in the Geschwind laboratory, whose valuable experience and advice guided me whenever I was performing experiments, analyzing data, or writing manuscripts. UCSF Medical Scientist Program administrator Jana Toutolmin has provided me with outstanding guidance and support throughout the admissions process and has continued to help me effectively navigate the system. Many thanks to her for helpful comments on this manuscript. To Tania, my sweetheart, thank you for your everlasting love and patience and for your help in allowing me to find my path in life. My mom, dad, and step-dad deserve special thanks for their dedication to parenting and for their support in whatever I have attempted. To all others whom I have had the pleasure to call family members, friends, and colleagues, I wish you happiness and the very best in life.

-Jeremy Cholfin