Image Phil Washbourne
Philip Washbourne
Ph.D., Universita' di Padova
B.Sc., Imperial College London

Research Interests

Research in the Washbourne Lab focuses on the genetic, molecular, and cellular underpinnings of social behavior. Using behavioral, biochemical, histological and genetic analyses, we are examining the circuits and the molecules that make social behavior possible and how they form during development. We have focused for the time being on social behavior in the zebrafish, a very social fish that follows and orients with respect to other zebrafish. Our work has implications for neurological disorders with social components such as autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Prospective Graduate Students: The Washbourne Lab is accepting new graduate students.

Collaborators

Judith Eisen
Development of vertebrate nervous system with a focus on interactions between the nervous system, immune system, and host-associated microbiota
Luca Mazzucato
Computational neuroscience, Artificial Intelligence
Adam Miller
Neural circuit wiring, synapse formation, and electrical synaptogenesis.
John Postlethwait
Developmental genetics and the evolution of developmental mechanisms
Matt Smear
Active Olfaction
Michael Wehr
Neural computation in auditory circuits
Monte Westerfield
Molecular genetics of Usher syndrome and other diseases