Professor Dr. Jimmy Fraigne

Biography

Jimmy Fraigne is an Assistant Professor in the Teaching Stream at the Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto. His research aims to determine the neural circuits that control sleep and motor behavior. He focuses his questions on how the nervous system couples cortical arousal with appropriate motor activity to produce meaningful behavior, specifically investigating the characteristics of REM sleep that are generated and controlled. His lab employs a range of techniques, including optogenetics and live cell imaging, to analyze the pathology of sleep circuitry and its contributions to sleep disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. In terms of pedagogy, he promotes scientific literacy and active learning in his teaching, believing that these elements are integral to developing critical thinking skills, knowledge, and curiosity among students. Moreover, he integrates experiential learning with data science into his courses, aiming to provide students with hands-on experience while also exploring the use of generative AI to enhance learning experiences and create tools for AI-assisted coding. He is committed to fostering an inclusive and engaging learning environment in which students feel comfortable.

Research Interests