The development of neuronal circuits controlling sleep/wake behaviour in zebrafish models of autism

Sabine is a developmental neuroscientist interested in the question of how neurodevelopmental diseases such as autism are associated with disrupted sleep. During this Fellowship she will use zebrafish larvae to investigate the role of autism-associated genes in the development and function of the hypothalamic circuits that control sleep and wakefulness. Sabine will use a combination of neuroanatomical analysis, functional neuroimaging and behavioural studies. She will be based in the labs of Dr Jason Rihel (Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, UCL) and Professor Florian Engert (Harvard Medical School, Harvard University) collaborating with Professor Antonio Giraldez (Genetics Department, Yale University).