Research Assistant Position: Aggression in Fruit Flies
Prof. Edward Kravitz, Harvard Medical School
part-time during academic year, full-time during summer
Our laboratory studies aggression using a fruit fly model system. The studies link quantitative behavioral experiments with powerful genetic methods in explorations of how higher-level aggression is generated in the nervous system. Recently we have started optogenetic methods as well. We are interested in having 1-2 undergraduate students work with us part time (possibly for academic credit) during the academic year and full time during summers. While we are mainly interested in students looking for a senior honors thesis project, we will consider all applications. References: 1. Review: Fernández MP and Kravitz EA. (2015) Aggression in Drosophila. Behav Neurosci. (2015)129:549-563. 2. Article: Alekseyenko OV (2019) Serotonergic Modulation of Aggression in Drosophila Involves GABAergic and Cholinergic Opposing Pathways. Curr Biol. 29:2145-2156. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.05.070. PMID: 31231050. Requirements and Expectations: We prefer students who have had introductory Neurobiology and Genetics courses. Laboratory experience is helpful but not required. Additional Information: Lab PI is Edward A. Kravitz, PhD, George Packer Berry Professor of Neurobiology, http://www.hms.harvard.edu/bss.neuro/kravitz. Mentoring: Student will be trained and working under close supervision of a post-doctoral fellow at start. Then student will carry out project on his/her own with guidance and input from a Post-Doc and lab head. There are weekly laboratory meetings that all laboratory members attend during which ongoing research of lab members are presented. Learning outcome: Hopefully an honors thesis in a concentration field. Detailed understanding of state of the art genetic methods applied to the understanding of an important biological problem. Number of hours students are expected to work, length of the project: These are negotiable during the academic year. Hopefully full time during summers. Sophomores and Juniors are encouraged to apply and the ultimate goal will be an honors thesis in a specialty area. Pay or Course Credit: Students are encouraged to apply for various Harvard Funds for salary during summers—The laboratory will cover full summer stipends that are not covered by Harvard summer research awards. During Academic year, students are encouraged to take concentration Research Classes for academic credit. To Apply: Email resume (cv) to Dr. Rachel Monyak (Rachel_Monyak@hms.harvard.edu) with a copy to Ed Kravitz (Edward_kravitz@hms.harvard.edu) with contact names for recommendation letters. (posted 4/2023)