Neurophotonics 8th Annual Symposium Swims, Squirms, and Soars through Animal Neuronal Function

On January 15, 2025, the Neurophotonics Center co-hosted its 8th annual symposium event alongside the Hariri Institute, in an event organized by NPC faculty Meg Younger and Christopher Gabel. The symposium topic, “Neurophotonics Across the Animal Kingdom,” included studies on schooling fish, C. elegans., songbirds, and more.

Following opening remarks from Center Director David Boas, co-ogranizer Meg Younger kicked off the first round of presentations, chaired by Assistant Professor Brian DePasquale: Neuronal Circuits for Navigation and Movement. Presenters included Matthew Lovett-Barron and Rachel Wilson From U.C. San Diego and Harvard University, respectively. Following their presentations was a coffee break and the first opportunity to check out some of the many amazing posters submitted by Neurophotonics Center students, showcasing their relevant neurophotonics research to experts in the field.

The second session of presentations,”Combining Neurophotonics and Connectomics to Study Neuronal Function,” was chaired by Associate Professor Jerry Chen, and featured talks from Boston University Assistant Professor Benjamin Scott and Stanford University’s Professor Thomas Clandinin, covering songbird research and connectomics as related to the drosophila visual system.

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  • Matthew Lovett-Barron | U.C. San Diego | "Neurobiology of Collective Behavior in Schooling Fish"

  • Rachel Wilson | Harvard University | "Neural Networks for Navigation"

  • Ben Scott | Boston University | "EM Connectomics Reveals Tunneling Migration of New Neurons in the Adult Songbird Brain"

  • Thomas Clandinin | Stanford University | "How Does Connectomics Constrain Computation in the Drosophila Visual System?"

  • Michael Economo | Boston University | "Voltage Imaging: Novel Methods and Applications"

  • Aravi Samuel | Harvard University | "Optogenetic Biochemistry"

  • Zoe Donaldson | U. of Colorado, Boulder | "Nucleus Accumbens Calcium-Permeable AMPARs Orchestrate Pair Bonding"

  • Silke Sachse | The Max Planck Institute | "Unraveling the Evolution of Olfactory Processing with Transgenic Locusts"

  • Cori Bargmann | The Rockefeller University | "The Mind-Body Problem: Aligning Physiology and Neuronal Function in C. elegans"

The penultimate session, “Novel Techniques: Pushing the Limits of Neurophotonics,” chaired by Mike Wallace, featured talks from BU Assistant Professor Michael Economo and Harvard University’s Aravi Samuel, where they shared presentations concerning voltage imaging and optogenetic biochemistry.

Lastly, “Neurophotonics: Bridging Molecules, Circuits, and Behavior,” chaired by Associate Professor Ian Davison, featured the last three speakers: Zoe Donaldson, from the University of Colorado, Boulder; Silke Sachse, from the Max Planck Institute; and Cori Bargmann of the Rockefeller University. Closing out the symposium, these presenters shared research on pair bonding, olfactory processing in transgenic locusts, and neuronal function in C. elegans.

The event could not have been made possible without the help of the Hariri Institute, as well as NPC faculty members across the board. Thank you to everyone who participated in the organizing, as well as all of our guests. We already can’t wait for next year!

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