Interests

Temporal patterning arises as one of the main mechanisms used by both invertebrates and vertebrates to generate the vast diversity of neurons and glia that compose the brain. The Desplan laboratory has been the pioneer in deciphering the molecular players and mechanisms that govern temporal patterning in the Drosophila optic lobe. Temporal patterning allows neural stem cells to generate an increased diversity of neurons and, importantly, allows the generation of this diversity in a stereotyped and precise order. However, how the ordered generation of neurons impacts circuit formation during development is poorly understood. My project aims at studying this question using the medulla neuropil of the fly optic lobe as a model system. Moreover, by using single-cell RNA sequencing of medulla neurons throughout development I seek to uncover the molecular determinants involved in this fundamental process.

Funding

• Kimmel Center for Stem Cell Biology Senior Postdoctoral Fellowship
• Human Frontier Science Program Long-Term Fellowship