Research Assistant Position: Neurobiology of Parasitic Behavior Manipulation

Research Assistant Position: Neurobiology of Parasitic Behavior Manipulation
Dr. Carolyn Elya and Prof. Benjamin de Bivort, Organismic and Evolutionary Biology/FAS
fall 2021



Why do organisms behave the way they do? The de Bivort lab is interested in answering this question from a variety of perspectives including neural circuits, genetics, evolution and ecology. The lab leverages the powerful laboratory model Drosophila melanogaster (i.e., fruit flies) and specializes in developing automated, quantitative behavior assays to measure several different behaviors (e.g., handedness, phototaxis, olfactory preference, thermal preference). Current projects in the lab include understanding the neural circuit basis of decision making when provided identical choices, understanding behavior of wild flies and flies in natural settings, the physiological and morphological basis of fly personality (inter-individual behavior variability), the evolution of individuality within populations, and the mechanisms underlying “zombie” behaviors induced by a parasitic fungal pathogen. Responsibilities: The RA will participate in the primary research project of a senior postdoctoral researcher: determining how the zombie fungus Entomophthora muscae manipulates the behavior of its fly host. Briefly, they will work alongside Dr. Carolyn Elya to perform experiments that test mechanistic hypotheses underlying summit disease, the climbing behavior that occurs right before fly death and serves to position the fungus-filled fly in an optimal position for fungal spore dispersal into the environment. Responsibilities of the RA will include culturing flies, performing genetic crosses with flies, infecting fruit flies with the zombie fungus, performing behavior assays and analyzing data. The RA will initially work with Dr. Elya on understanding the mechanistic basis of summiting behavior with the possibility to later transition into independent research on other aspects of fruit fly zombification. Requirements: No previous lab experience is necessary. RA should be curious, detail-oriented and available to work 10 hours a week in the lab. They should be able to come into the lab at least one afternoon Mon through Friday after 2 pm. Expectations: The RA will be expected to perform experiments in the lab alongside Dr. Elya, maintain an up-to-date notebook, adhere to the weekly lab schedule agreed upon with Dr. Elya and provide clear written and oral communication detailing work performed and results obtained. The RA will also be encouraged to attend the weekly de Bivort lab group meeting. Additional info: RAs will be compensated for their efforts either with course credit or with a living wage ($15/hour). Applicants can learn more about the zombie fly system by reading the paper describing the zombie fly system (https://elifesciences.org/articles/34414) or by watching a fun video introduction of Dr. Elya’s work (https://www.kqed.org/science/1949314/this-killer-fungus-turns-flies-into-zombies). They can also learn more about the de Bivort lab via the lab website (https://lab.debivort.org/) and Dr. Elya via her personal website (www.carolynelya.com). How to apply: Please email Dr. Elya at cnelya@g.harvard.edu and provide a brief description of who you are (your major, year, what science courses you’ve taken, previous lab experience, if any), why you are interested in the position (e.g., are you interested in course credit? Are there specific lab skills that you want to learn or practice?) Please also provide your anticipated semester schedule. (poated 1/2021)