I am interested in the neural and genetic control of behavior. The main project in the lab is understanding the mechanims that controls ecdysis, the behavior that allows insects to shed their old cuticle.
Insect growth occurs through multiple stages.
At the end of each stage the animal molts and produces a new cuticle for the next stage. The molt culminates with ecdysis, the shedding of the old cuticle. Ecdysis has a well-known neuroendocrine basis, occurs only at specific times in development, and can be under sensory and circadian control. The long-term goal of this work is to understand how ecdysis behavior is triggered, and how its timing is coordinated with development and circadian rhythmicity. Most of our work is carried out using Drosophila , taking advantage of the genetic and molecular tools available in this organism to identify components involved in the control of ecdysis behavior, and determine their role in vivo .