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Josh Lillvis joined the Department of Biology at Texas A&M University in 2025. His research focuses on the mechanistic principles underlying behavioral variation in individuals and species, particularly through the study of neural circuits. His work explores the genetic and neural mechanisms that remain undefined and how they relate to the evolution of distinctive behavioral patterns. Using Drosophila melanogaster as a model system, he investigates the intricate interactions between neural circuitry and behavior, particularly in the context of fruit fly courtship songs. Lillvis employs cutting-edge methodologies, including genome editing and optogenetics, to analyze how neuron connectivity and function vary across individuals and species. His aim is to make transformative contributions to our understanding of the neural basis of behavior and its evolutionary implications.
Department: Department of Communication and Journalism. Ph.D. program only currently admitting. GRE is test-optional.