Research

Neuroethology

We study the neuroethology of movement in small animals. We are interested in understanding how the brains of invertebrates control complex bodies to solve problems associated with moving over different types of terrain. Work in the lab is highly integrative, involving everything from genetics to anatomy to electrophysiology and live imaging to biomechanics and animal behaviour. We collaborate and cooperate with researchers within the Schools of Physics and Astronomy, School of Biology as well as within the School of Psychology and Neuroscience. We also work with a variety of international institutions, as well as non-profit organizations and industry partners.

Increasing access to science 

Another stream of work in our lab revolves around making cutting edge neuroethology accessible for educators and laypeople. Invertebrates are very cost effective vehicles for teaching principles of genetics, molecular biology, cellular physiology, and animal behaviour. As our research moves forward, in parallel, everyone in the lab is encouraged to think about how to ‘spin out’ aspects of their work to classrooms and teaching labs in ways that reduce financial and logistical barriers between researchers and educators.

Tracking environmental costs of research

We are conscious of the fact that our research incurs environmental costs. In the lab, we are now actively exploring ways of tracking, minimizing, and mitigating the environmental costs of our research. To try and focus this effort, all PhD students in the lab are encouraged to create a Carbon Appendix to their PhD thesis. These appendices will attempt to estimate the environmental costs of  specific research activities undertaken during the PhD, and outline what was done to minimize and/or mitigate the environmental impact of the work. Our hope is that thesis by thesis, we will learn how to do science more sustainably.