Laboratory of Chemosensation and Behavior

We combine experiments with theory to understand the computations organisms perform to navigate chemical environments, and the molecular and cellular circuits that enable them. At the smaller scale we analyze information processing in individual bacteria and neurons, the molecular basis of individuality, and how biological diversity can benefit populations. At the larger scale of whole organisms, we examine the neural circuits fruit flies use to extract navigational cues from odor signals and to combine such information with other cues and memory to perform goal-oriented navigation.

Chemical navigation is not just about following chemical gradients—it involves complex computations in three main areas:

Extracting information from signals: Detecting and processing signals to extract relevant information and combine information from various cues.
Decision Making: Choosing optimal paths based on environmental inputs, while taking into account how behavioral decisions actively change the signals that will be experienced next.
Biological Computation: How these processes are executed at the molecular, cellular, and population levels, and how biological diversity and collective behavior lead to emergent adaptive function.

This quantitative perspective reveals the fundamental strategies that organisms use to adapt to diverse environments.

From Bacteria to Fruit Flies

We investigate the well-characterized systems in bacterial chemotaxis and fly olfaction. By bridging microbiology and neuroscience, our dual-system approach:

Identifies universal principles of biological computation.
Sparks creativity and fresh ideas through interdisciplinary research.

Join Us

Our lab offers a unique environment where interdisciplinary research meets pioneering exploration. If you’re passionate about decoding the secrets of nature through innovative computational and experimental methods, we welcome your curiosity and expertise to our team.