Neural circuit development and plasticity.

Our studies proceed along three major lines: (1) Microbial population dynamics under stress, (2) Understanding drought resistance and engineering drought-resistant nutritious plants (3) The plant microbiome and its dynamics

Mechanisms of leukocyte migration across distinct blood vessels during infections using genetically manipulated immune competent mice and state of the art imaging approaches. Imaging cancer cell crossing of blood vessels during metastatic processes.

We study morphogenesis, cell biology and function of hypothalamic neurons, which regulate appetite, stress and social behavior

Mechanisms of axon growth, destruction and refinement during developmental neuronal remodeling

The synaptic basis for sexual dimorphism in the nervous system

Understanding epithelial, stem and immune cell interactions in the gut

We study the molecular foundations and applied potential of mammalian pluripotent stem cells in early organ development, germ cell formation and whole synthetic embryo generation ex utero

Intracellular and intercellular trafficking of mRNA and its role in protein localization and cell physiology

An integrative approach for the exploration of melanoma genetic and immunological interactions