Mario Muscedere

Like other social insects, ants live in large colonies comprised of family members that work together as an integrated unit, a lifestyle that has lead to incredible ecological success. My research has focused on understanding the neural and physiological mechanisms that underlie the surprisingly sophisticated task performance of workers in these colonies. More recently I have worked on projects aimed at understanding how patterns of worker brain evolution and brain metabolism are linked to the behavioral, social, ecological, and life history variation that exists across ant species.

While I still collaborate on active research projects, my primary academic focus is now undergraduate education. My goal is to develop courses and programs that are interactive, inquiry-based, and inclusive, ensuring that our majors in the life sciences are prepared for any future career path. As Director of the Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience, I also oversee all administrative aspects of the College’s Neuroscience major.