Developmental Biology

The developmental biology program combines research activities centered in the Institute of Neuroscience with those in the Institute of Molecular Biology and the Institute of Ecology and Evolution. Several laboratories (Eisen, Guillemin, Kimmel, Miller, Postlethwait, and Westerfield) use zebrafish as a model in which to study the mechanisms underlying vertebrate development. Other research groups study development in the fruit fly (Doe, Guillemin, Herman, Prehoda), the mouse (Gardner, Guillemin, Niell, Stankunas, Sylwestrak, Zemper), the three spine stickleback (Cresko, Kimmel, Postlethwait), the nematode (Bowerman, Libuda, Phillips), Neurospora (Selker), and evolving gene families (Cresko, Kimmel). Members of all of these laboratories actively share information and resources in this diverse and rapidly moving field. In addition to a graduate research training program, a weekly journal club, and joint research group meetings, the developmental biologists participate in a yearly symposium on a topic of interest selected by graduate students in the participating laboratories.

 

Image Developmental Biology Image Gallery
Name Department Research Interest Accepting grads
Chris Q Doe Biology Generation of neuronal diversity and motor circuits in Drosophila  
Judith Eisen Biology Development of vertebrate nervous system with a focus on interactions between the nervous system, immune system, and host-associated microbiota
Adrianne Huxtable Human Physiology Development of brain and spinal circuits controlling breathing
Chuck Kimmel Biology Morphogenesis and evolutionary developmental biology of the skull
Adam Miller Biology Neural circuit wiring, synapse formation, and electrical synaptogenesis.  
Cristopher Niell Biology Neural circuits for natural vision
John Postlethwait Biology Developmental genetics and the evolution of developmental mechanisms
Emily Sylwestrak Biology Neural circuits of behavior; reward and addiction
Philip Washbourne Biology Developmental neuroscience with a focus on social behavioral circuits
Monte Westerfield Biology Molecular genetics of Usher syndrome and other diseases