Neurobiology Research Areas

Neural basis of behavior

Mechanistic dissection of the circuits and cellular underpinnings of sensation and behavior

Our faculty use cutting edge techniques such as optogenetics and advanced imaging methods to understand how neural circuits process information and mediate complex behaviors.

Ismail Ahmed
Adam Douglass
Richard Dorsky
Chris Gregg
Jim Heys
Andres Villu Maricq
Fergil Mills
Jessica Osterhout
Matt Wachowiak
Moriel Zelikowsky
Christopher Zimmerman

Image for research areas - Molecular Signaling or Mechanisms of Disease v2

Molecular Signaling and Development

Mechanisms of intra- and inter-cellular signaling in cells of the nervous system

Faculty investigate signaling pathways that control development, plasticity, immune interactions and neuromodulation

Ismail Ahmed
Jan Christian
Richard Dorsky
Nichole Link
Jessica Osterhout
Sungjin Park
Jason Shepherd
Alex Shcheglovitov
Monica Vetter
Megan Williams

Synapses and circuits

Cellular and molecular mechanisms of synapse formation and function

Synaptic transmission and plasticity are approached from molecules to in vivo circuits to understand information encoding and storage in the brain. Faculty interests include how synapses form in defined neural circuits and how experience shapes these synaptic circuits.

Adam Douglass
Jim Heys
Andres Villu Maricq
Fergil Mills
Sungjin Park
Alex Shcheglovitov
Jason Shepherd
Matt Wachowiak
Megan Williams
Moriel Zelikowsky
Christopher Zimmerman

Mechanisms of disease

Understanding the pathogenesis of neurological and genetic disorders

Basic biology informs how diseases arise from molecular and cellular processes gone awry. Our faculty investigates a multitude of disorders that include neurodevelopmental disorders, behavioral disorders, sensory loss, pain and neurodegeneration.

Ismail Ahmed
Alejandra Bosco
Noel Carlson
Noel Carlson
Chris Gregg
Nichole Link
Andres Villu Maricq
Jessica Osterhout
Alex Shcheglovitov
Jason Shepherd
Dimitri Trankner
Monica Vetter
Megan Williams

Genes and Epigenetics

Investigating how genetic and epigenetic programs shape neural development, connectivity, and behavior

Faculty study how transcriptional networks, chromatin modifications, and genomic imprinting regulate neuronal identity and function, and how genetic variation or disrupted gene regulation contributes to neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Richard Dorsky
Chris Gregg
Nichole Link
Alex Shcheglovitov
Jason Shepherd
Dimitri Trankner
Monica Vetter