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Aref Zarin joined the Department of Biology at Texas A&M University in 2020. His research program focuses on the intersection of neuroscience and genetics, particularly exploring fundamental questions about neural circuitry and its role in generating motor patterns. He leverages advanced genetic and optogenetic tools to investigate Drosophila larva, taking advantage of the near-completion connectome of its motor circuits. This enables his research to identify pre- and postsynaptic partners of individual neurons at a granular level. Additionally, his work aims to understand the development and function of larval motor circuits while examining how intrinsic neural properties and gene expression influence behavior. Zarin has a strong background in neuroscience, having earned his Ph.D. in 2013 from the University of Dublin, Ireland, and completed postdoctoral research at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. His lab employs a combination of modern methodologies to access and manipulate neural activity, further linking genetic development to behavioral outcomes.
Texas A&M University • College Station, TX
Joined the Department of Biology to lead a research program focused on neural circuitry and behavior in Drosophila larva.
Department: Department of Communication and Journalism. Ph.D. program only currently admitting. GRE is test-optional.