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Willem Laursen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Washington. His overarching interest is understanding sensory information that organisms detect and use to modify physiology and drive behavior. He takes a comparative physiological approach, combining cutting-edge genetic methods and behavioral physiological recordings to investigate the cellular and molecular sensory adaptations that enable species to thrive in their niches. His research focuses on disease vectors and agricultural pests to deepen the understanding of sensory physiology, which aids in predicting their movement and offers alternatives to prevent the spread of human disease and damage to agricultural crops. Mosquitoes serve as an excellent model system for Laursen's studies, which encompass sensory processing and detection mechanisms. He completed his undergraduate studies at Macalester College, worked as a postbaccalaureate research fellow at the National Institutes of Health, and attained a PhD in Neuroscience from Yale University. His postdoctoral research involved using genetic manipulation in vector mosquito species to identify behavioral influences related to environmental cues. He has received several prestigious fellowships and awards throughout his career.
University of Washington • Seattle, WA
Teaching and conducting research in biology, focusing on sensory adaptations in insects.
Standard Graduate School requirements for University of Washington apply to most departments listed unless specified otherwise by the program.