How do brains work? How do we learn and remember things? These are the questions that guide our research.
Research in my lab is primarily directed at understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate the development and function of neurons. We use a multidisciplinary approach in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, to create genetic mutants and transgenic flies that perturb genes involved in neural function and development and then assay the effects of the mutations using electrophysiology, biochemistry, electron microscopy and imaging.
Through a collaboration with Professor Barzda in UTM Physics, we also investigate the application of non-linear microscopic methods in biological systems. We have used second- and third-harmonic generation techniques to study muscle structure, muscle dynamics, and eye development.
 |
 |
 |
| Image of Drosophila Larval Muscles | Cells showing DNA (blue), actin (red) and NSF (green) | Actin in the Drosophila Neuromuscular Synapse |