The goal of my research is to better understand the biophysical mechanisms which allow Ca2+ to permeate through N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) Receptors. Through a variety of electrophysiological methods, I intend to look at a highly conserved motif found on the extracellular portion of the M3 helix on the obligatory GluN1 subunit that is though to be partially responsible for the receptor's high permeability to calcium ions.