My lab studies the assembly, function, and evolution of circuits. Specifically, we focus on sensorimotor circuits, such as those in the spinal cord. These circuits process a variety of stimuli such as heat, light touch, pain, and self-movement. These circuits generate patterned muscle contractions underly animal movement.
Movement control- My lab is interested in understanding how neural circuits implement the motor programs that allow animals to move. Our goal is to understand the functional architecture of a sensorimotor system at the cellular level.
Circuit assembly- We are interested in understanding how circuits self-assemble starting from a small number of stem cells. This should generate developmental insight relevant to stem cell reprogramming that could be used to replace diseased/damaged neural tissue.
Evolution of circuits- We are interested in how sensorimotor circuits change over evolutionary time scales to allow animals to control different body forms and behaviors.
University of Oregon
Eugene, OR
Postdoc - Neuronal Circuits
2015
Brown University
Providence, RI
BS - Biology
2008
University of California
San Francisco, CA
PhD - Cell Biology
2007
Multiple Scales of Coordination along the Body Axis during Drosophila Larval Locomotion.
Multiple Scales of Coordination along the Body Axis during Drosophila Larval Locomotion. J Neurosci. 2026 May 20; 46(20).
PMID: 41963087
The cellular basis of locomotor evolution: insights from larval insects.
The cellular basis of locomotor evolution: insights from larval insects. Curr Opin Behav Sci. 2026 Jun; 69.
PMID: 42453530
The Study of Sensorimotor Circuit Assembly in Drosophila melanogaster Embryos and Larvae.
The Study of Sensorimotor Circuit Assembly in Drosophila melanogaster Embryos and Larvae. Cold Spring Harb Protoc. 2025 Dec 01; 2025(12):pdb.top108395.
PMID: 39284631
Imaging Neural Activity in Intact, Semirestrained Drosophila Larvae.
Imaging Neural Activity in Intact, Semirestrained Drosophila Larvae. Cold Spring Harb Protoc. 2025 12 01; 2025(12):db.prot108421.
PMID: 39284629
Single-Neuron Labeling in Drosophila Using Multicolor FLP-Out.
Single-Neuron Labeling in Drosophila Using Multicolor FLP-Out. Cold Spring Harb Protoc. 2025 12 01; 2025(12):db.prot108422.
PMID: 39284630
Studying Drosophila Larval Behavior in Agarose Channels.
Studying Drosophila Larval Behavior in Agarose Channels. Cold Spring Harb Protoc. 2025 12 01; 2025(12):db.prot108420.
PMID: 39284632
Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization Chain Reaction for RNA in the Drosophila Embryonic and Larval Central Nervous System.
Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization Chain Reaction for RNA in the Drosophila Embryonic and Larval Central Nervous System. Cold Spring Harb Protoc. 2025 12 01; 2025(12):db.prot108423.
PMID: 39284633
Sequential addition of neuronal stem cell temporal cohorts generates a feed-forward circuit in the Drosophila larval nerve cord.
Sequential addition of neuronal stem cell temporal cohorts generates a feed-forward circuit in the Drosophila larval nerve cord. Elife. 2022 06 20; 11.
PMID: 35723253
The Role of Even-Skipped in Drosophila Larval Somatosensory Circuit Assembly.
The Role of Even-Skipped in Drosophila Larval Somatosensory Circuit Assembly. eNeuro. 2022 Jan-Feb; 9(1).
PMID: 35031555
RNA-binding protein syncrip regulates starvation-induced hyperactivity in adult Drosophila.
RNA-binding protein syncrip regulates starvation-induced hyperactivity in adult Drosophila. PLoS Genet. 2021 02; 17(2):e1009396.
PMID: 33617535
Postdoctoral Fellowship
American Heart Association
2012 - 2015
Predoctoral Fellowship
Howard Hughes Medical Insitutue
2000 - 2005
Sigma Xi Membership
Brown University Chapter of Sigma Xi
1998
Academic All-Ivy Selection (fencing)
Ivy-League
1996