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University of Missouri-Columbia
Division of Biological Sciences

Neurobiology and behavior faculty mentors

faculty mentor and studentThese faculty members share a common interest in the early development and later function of the nervous system with an emphasis on the neural control of behavior. They approach this central theme from a wide variety of perspectives including sensory physiology, sensory-motor integration and regeneration, neuroethology, developmental neurobiology, molecular neurobiology and neurogenetics. Their research interests include the neural basis of communication, neuroendocrine control of sexual differentiation and behavior, and neural pathways that control movement. Much of the power of their work is the result of their unique evolutionary, physiological and behavioral perspectives.

Anand Chandrasekhar Mechanisms regulating neuronal development and physiology
Michael Garcia Molecular and cellular analysis of axon-glial interactions; neurodegenerative and demyelinating diseases.
H. Carl Gerhardt Sound pattern recognition and localization in frogs and toads: neurobiology, sexual selection and speciation
Philip Jen Neuroethology, auditory physiology, sound localization, corticofugal system, echolocating bats, genetic mutant mice
Mark Kirk Stem cell biology and therapies for neurodegenerative diseases and brain tumors
Joel Maruniak Adult neurogenesis
Andrew McClellan Cellular studies of functional neural regeneration after spinal cord injury; factors that promote neurite outgrowth and synapse formation of neurons in cell culture; operation of neural network on the brain and spinal cord that control locomotor behavior
Johannes Schul Evolution and neuroethology of acoustic communication systems
David Schulz How do individual neurons balance plasticity and stability in the nervous system?
Frederick vom Saal Reproductive system development, estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals, fetal origins of adult disease
Samuel T. Waters Molecular and genetic analysis of transcriptional regulators during neural development
Troy Zars Mechanisms of learning and memory in Drosophila

Research stories

Rex CocroftRex Cocroft and NPR's Radio Expeditions take a Journey to the Edge of the Amazon.
Mark KirkMark Kirk and colleagues: stem cell therapy shows promise for neurodegenerative disease.
Fred vom SaalFred vom Saal: Programmed for obesity - early exposure to common chemicals can permanently alter metabolic system.
Troy ZarsTroy Zars works to localize memory in Drosophila.