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Elizabeth Heckscher is an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology at the University of Chicago. Her research focuses on the assembly, function, and evolution of sensorimotor circuits, particularly in the spinal cord. She investigates how these circuits process a variety of stimuli, such as heat, light touch, and pain, to generate patterned muscle contractions that underlie animal movement. Her laboratory is committed to understanding the functional architecture of the sensorimotor system at a cellular level. In addition to circuit assembly, she is interested in how these neural circuits self-assemble from a small number of stem cells, providing insights that could be relevant for stem cell reprogramming and the replacement of diseased or damaged neural tissues. Her work also explores how sensorimotor circuits evolve over time, adapting to changes that allow animals to control diverse body forms and behaviors.
University of Chicago • Chicago, IL
Leading research on sensorimotor circuits and their functions.
Department of Philosophy