My research interests center around understanding how the nervous system undergoes evolutionary changes and the associated molecular mechanisms. At the Desplan lab, my primary focus involves studying the Indian jumping ant, Harpegnathos saltator. As eusocial organisms, ants inhabit intricately organized societies, relying extensively on vision and olfaction to interpret their surroundings. To facilitate communication with nest-mates and perceive environmental cues, ants have evolved an increased number of odorant receptors. This heightened peripheral system complexity also corresponds to a more intricate processing center in the central nervous system. The mushroom body serves as a pivotal processing center in insects, responsible for integrating visual and olfactory information. Notably, in ants, mushroom body neurons comprise approximately 25-30% of total brain neurons, a substantial contrast to the 5-10% observed in fly mushroom bodies. Consequently, my research aims to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying the diversity of mushroom body neurons in ants.