The Lab
We study how social signals exchanged by animals alter their development and physiology. In particular, we focus on the roles of pheromones on reproduction, sexual maturation, and aging. We use C. elegans as a supremely powerful model system in which to dissect the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms and hope to translate our findings to other organisms.
We actively seek talented and motivated researchers (postdocs, technicians and undergraduates) to join our effort.
If interested, contact Ilya directly.
Cook Hall at Northwestern University
The News
Serotonergic circuit regulates reproduction and germline
We released a bioRxiv preprint which shows that a specific serotonergic circuit coordinately regulates reproductive behaviors and germline development in C. elegans.
Male pheromone improves oogenic germline
In a PNAS paper we showed how C. elegans male pheromone improves the quality of the oogenic germline.
Ophelia joins the lab!
Ophelia Tong received Summer Undergraduate Research Grant. Congratulations!
New features of male pheromone sensation
We reported (MicroPubl Biol.) on several features of how the male pheromone is sensed and processed in C. elegans hermaphrodites.
ODR-1 plays a role in pheromone perception
We reported (MicroPubl Biol.) on the role of ODR-1 in determining whether C. elegans pheromone blends are perceived as “male” or “hermaphrodite”.