During development, neural stem cells (NSCs) generate diverse cell types that self-assemble to form neural circuits regulating distinct behaviors. How neural cell types are specified and assembled into neural circuits is poorly understood.
Our research group uses a curiosity-driven approach that combines collaborative and diverse scientific and life experiences to understand the fundamental principles of neural diversity. Using our favorite model system, fruit flies, we investigate developmental programs that generate neural cell types of the highly conserved insect brain region, the central complex. We have identified developmental programs that specify neural cell types regulating two essential behaviors, olfactory navigation, and sleep. In New Mexico, we have started an ambitious Pueblo Brain Science program involving training, mentoring, and science outreach modules to train next-generation scientists