Research

​

Our primary research goal is to uncover how the cellular, organismal and ancestral environments shape natural variation in the spatial and temporal patterns of degeneration and regeneration in the adult vertebrate brain. We combine several approaches including behavioral genomics, comparative neuroanatomy, cellular and molecular biology, and electrophysiology with mechanistic studies to ask questions like: How do differing spatiotemporal patterns of adult neurogenesis arise within and across individuals, populations, and species? How do these patterns change with natural fluctuations and human-driven alterations to the environment? Can we exploit the plasticity and diversity of these patterns to better understand the evolutionary origins of behavior and drive mitigation efforts? How does local tissue environment alter neural plasticity and organismal behavior? Can we exploit diversity in neural plasticity to better understand and treat neurological disorders and disease?

​

Our research program focuses on three main areas:

1.) Understanding the limits of neural degeneration and regeneration

2.) Developing tools and investigating mechanisms of cell lineage patterning and plasticity 

3.) Exploring how environmental changes affect neural plasticity and behavior

​

​