A 2026 Crick PhD project with Lucia Prieto Godino.

Project background and description

The enormous behavioural diversity of animals arose through evolution of their brain neural circuits, yet our understanding of how neural circuits evolve is still very limited. Our lab aims at shinning light on this question by using as models the larval and adult stages of diverse Drosophila species, integrating a suite of advanced neuroscience methods such as cross-species comparative connectomics, volumetric imaging, electrophysiology, single-cell transcriptomics, computational modelling, behavioural analysis and genetic manipulation. This enables us to uncover patterns of neural circuit evolution and to move beyond correlation to understand the genetic bases of circuit changes, and their role in behavioural evolution.

We and others have previously shown that olfactory guided behaviours can evolve through changes in the periphery, at the level of olfactory sensory neurons (Prieto-Godino et al. 2017 Neuron, Prieto-Godino et al. 2016 Nature, Prieto-Godino et al. 2020 Science Advances).  In addition, behavioural diversity can evolve through modification in how sensory information is processed in the brain, but we know much less about how this happens (Roberts et al. 2022 Nature Neuroscience Reviews). In the lab we have found that evolutionary relatives of the lab model D. melanogaster display species-specific behaviours towards odour sources. This is associated with changes their olfactory sensory neuron ensemble, and how these represent the chemical environment. Furthermore, by performing comparative connectomics between the larva two Drosophila species with divergent odour-guided behaviours, we have found differences in how their central olfactory processing neurons are interconnected (Roberts et al. 2025 BioRxiv). This now gives us the perfect model system to understand how these connectivity changes contribute to behavioural differences, and what are the genetic changes that enable these connectivity changes during evolution. 

This project will address one of the most fundamental questions in evolutionary neuroscience. How do changes at the level of the genome result in precise modifications of neuronal architecture and function, eventually leading to behavioural evolution? The project will combine our knowledge from connectomics, which has determined which neuronal populations have changed during the evolution of the olfactory circuit of two closely related Drosophila species (Roberts et al. 2025 BioRxiv), with the genetic tools we have developed in these species over the years, transcriptomics, advanced imaging, connectomics and high throughput behavioural optogenetics to identify the genetic and molecular bases underlying the evolution of neural circuits and odour-guided behaviours. Specifically, the project will have a strong focus on developmental biology, to study how during development these neurons wire up differently across species, leading to different neural circuits.

Candidate background

Applicants should have curiosity about how neural circuits evolve, and have a strong drive to perform experiments in the lab. This project is mostly a experimental project working with small Drosophila embryos. A background in neuroscience, developmental neuroscience or molecular biology will be essential. Bioinformatic skills and programming will be required but not a must at the start of the project, as ample opportunities for training will be provided.

References