Dr. David Ehrlich

Biography

David Ehrlich is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of animal behavior, particularly through the lenses of aquatic biology, cell biology, developmental biology, neuroscience, and physiology. Ehrlich's work investigates how the nervous system orchestrates complex movements and the ability to adapt and learn from experiences. This includes studying the coordination required for various activities such as playing music, sports, and general movement. He emphasizes the critical aspects of adapting coordination as animals grow, particularly in children learning new motor skills. Questions that drive his research include how the brain transforms movement goals into coordinated patterns of activity and how synapses in cells encode learning in coordination, especially in developing animals. Additionally, he explores the vulnerability of coordination to neurodegenerative and developmental disorders.

Research Interests