Neuroethologist

Summary of research interest

I am a neuroethologist and physiologist interested in uncovering the neuronal and sensory mechanisms underlying social behaviours, with a particular focus on social communication in eusocial insects, the most advanced level of sociality. My research has primarily used the honey bee (Apis mellifera) as a model, due to its remarkably complex and diverse pheromonal communication system and its sophisticated social organisation based on division of labour.Using this model, I have deciphered the neural processes underlying the detection of social and sexual pheromones within the honey bee olfactory system. My work placed special emphasis on male honey bees, whose simplified and specialised olfactory system provides an ideal entry point to unravel the neuronal basis of pheromone processing.So far, my research has focused on three main directions: (1) Identification of sexual pheromones involved in reproductive behaviour in Apis mellifera. (2) Characterisation of the neural pathways responsible for detecting ecologically relevant pheromones across Apis species, and the mechanisms ensuring efficient behavioural responses (3) Establishing the neurobiological basis of division of labour in honey bees, including the development of neurogenetic tools to study neuronal processes at the whole-brain level.