Phototransduction mechanisms driving neural circuitry of complex behaviors
Phototransduction is the process by which light is transduced into electrical signaling. Light is one of the most powerful sensory cues for informing animals about their environment. Our lab studies how multiple phototransduction systems work at the mechanistic level and how they converge in the brain to regulate circadian behavior, sleep and arousal and decision making. We have discovered two novel phototransduction mechanisms that operate directly in central brain neurons using Drosophila as a model system (Fogle et al., 2011, Science; Ni, Baik et al., 2017, Nature; Baik et al., 2020, Current Biology). Recently we have extended our study of these phototransduction mechanisms to harmful mosquitoes with the goal of using light as an environmentally friendly means to control mosquitoes and to prevent human disease. Our NIH funded work spans the full integrative range from molecules to cellular and neural circuit physiology to animal behavior. Students from my lab have excellent records of strong publications, independent fellowship funding and post-graduate career achievement. We are accepting both Graduate and Undergraduate students.
Our goal is to find out what students can do, what they are good at, and when you enjoy doing something, the chances are good that you will excel at it. We begin with skill building, and after attainment of a baseline level of competence, students then take on their own projects. I expect that if everything goes to plan that student contributions will eventually lead to co- and first-authorships on scientific papers published in the very highest level scientific journals. As students progress, I increase my engagement with them in the form of helping them develop their own talks for lab meetings and then at University research forums, then even beyond to professional scientific meetings. I strongly encourage students to think critically and develop their own ideas.
Todd C. Holmes, Ph.D.
