People
'None of us is as good as all of us'
Carolina Rezaval- Group leader
Carolina was born in Patagonia, Argentina. She earned her Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Buenos Aires. Her PhD work, under the supervision of Dr. Fernanda Ceriani, focused on circadian rhythms and neurodegeneration in Drosophila. Her post-doctoral research at the University of Oxford explored the genetic and neural mechanisms of sexual behaviours in flies. As a BBSRC researcher co-investigator with Prof. Stephen Goodwin at Oxford, she studied how the fly brain differs between the sexes, and how these differences lead to distinct female and male behaviours. After obtaining a Birmingham Fellowship, Carolina established her independent research group at the University of Birmingham. In 2021, Carolina was promoted to Associate Professor in Neurobiology and became Module Lead for Year 3 Cellular Neurobiology. Carolina is a Fellow of the FENS-Kavli Network of Excellence. Her research has received support from a range of funding bodies, including the UK Research Council, Leverhulme Trust, British Council, The Royal Society, and the Wellcome Trust. Watch a 3 minute video about her work here and here.
Carolina was born in Patagonia, Argentina. She earned her Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Buenos Aires. Her PhD work, under the supervision of Dr. Fernanda Ceriani, focused on circadian rhythms and neurodegeneration in Drosophila. Her post-doctoral research at the University of Oxford explored the genetic and neural mechanisms of sexual behaviours in flies. As a BBSRC researcher co-investigator with Prof. Stephen Goodwin at Oxford, she studied how the fly brain differs between the sexes, and how these differences lead to distinct female and male behaviours. After obtaining a Birmingham Fellowship, Carolina established her independent research group at the University of Birmingham. In 2021, Carolina was promoted to Associate Professor in Neurobiology and became Module Lead for Year 3 Cellular Neurobiology. Carolina is a Fellow of the FENS-Kavli Network of Excellence. Her research has received support from a range of funding bodies, including the UK Research Council, Leverhulme Trust, British Council, The Royal Society, and the Wellcome Trust. Watch a 3 minute video about her work here and here.
Devika Bodas-Post-doctoral Fellow
Devika obtained her M.Sc. in Biotechnology from University of Pune, India. Her broad research interest is to understand the neural mechanisms underlying context-dependent modulation of animal behaviour. She completed her PhD under the guidance of Prof. Aurnab Ghose at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune. During her PhD, she investigated how internal states modulate the circuit functioning to regulate the plasticity of innate behaviours using adult zebrafish as a model system. As a postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Carolina Rezaval’s lab, her research will focus on the neuronal mechanisms underlying behavioural decision making in fruit flies.
Devika obtained her M.Sc. in Biotechnology from University of Pune, India. Her broad research interest is to understand the neural mechanisms underlying context-dependent modulation of animal behaviour. She completed her PhD under the guidance of Prof. Aurnab Ghose at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune. During her PhD, she investigated how internal states modulate the circuit functioning to regulate the plasticity of innate behaviours using adult zebrafish as a model system. As a postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Carolina Rezaval’s lab, her research will focus on the neuronal mechanisms underlying behavioural decision making in fruit flies.
Olga Procenko- Post-doctoral Fellow
Olga obtained a Master's degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Queen Mary University London, UK. Her scientific interest is predominantly focused on understanding animal behaviour and the mechanisms underlying it. During her master's program, she investigated sociocognitive processes in bumblebees, specifically exploring the potential for cultural transmission. For her PhD, Olga joined Nityananda lab at Newcastle University, UK. She further delves into studying how inner states, emotional-like states, influence visually guided decision-making in bumblebees. As a post-doc in the lab of Carolina Rezaval, Olga continues to investigate decision-making in insects. Her current research project will focus on understanding the neuroethology of conflicting decision-making in fruit flies.
Olga obtained a Master's degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Queen Mary University London, UK. Her scientific interest is predominantly focused on understanding animal behaviour and the mechanisms underlying it. During her master's program, she investigated sociocognitive processes in bumblebees, specifically exploring the potential for cultural transmission. For her PhD, Olga joined Nityananda lab at Newcastle University, UK. She further delves into studying how inner states, emotional-like states, influence visually guided decision-making in bumblebees. As a post-doc in the lab of Carolina Rezaval, Olga continues to investigate decision-making in insects. Her current research project will focus on understanding the neuroethology of conflicting decision-making in fruit flies.
Megan Day- MIBTP PhD student
Megan completed her Msci project in the Rezaval lab, looking at how the brain makes decisions when faced with conflicting options. She was accepted into the prestigious BBSRC-MIBTP programme to do PhD in the lab.
Megan completed her Msci project in the Rezaval lab, looking at how the brain makes decisions when faced with conflicting options. She was accepted into the prestigious BBSRC-MIBTP programme to do PhD in the lab.
Milan Narzary- PhD student
Milan obtained his M.Sc. from University of Hyderabad, India, where he completed his thesis under Dr. Sudipta Saraswati. His research involved characterising the role of a protein, mul1, in a Parkinson’s disease model of Drosophila. Following his master’s, he joined Dr. Sheeba Vasu’s lab at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, where he investigated how gap junctions modulate circadian rhythms. He is captivated by the capabilities of neuron’s electrical activity to encode complex physiological and behavioural phenomena. Currently, at the Rezaval lab, as a PhD student he is interested in studying how neural activity influences decision making in fruit flies.
Milan obtained his M.Sc. from University of Hyderabad, India, where he completed his thesis under Dr. Sudipta Saraswati. His research involved characterising the role of a protein, mul1, in a Parkinson’s disease model of Drosophila. Following his master’s, he joined Dr. Sheeba Vasu’s lab at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, where he investigated how gap junctions modulate circadian rhythms. He is captivated by the capabilities of neuron’s electrical activity to encode complex physiological and behavioural phenomena. Currently, at the Rezaval lab, as a PhD student he is interested in studying how neural activity influences decision making in fruit flies.
Marine Balcou- MIBTP PhD student
- Marine completed her BSc of Cellular Biology and Physiology at the University of Toulouse, France. Fascinated by the complexity of the brain, she then completed a joint master’s degree in neurosciences, at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the Charité Medical University of Berlin. Her main master’s project investigated the mechanisms of memory consolidation in fruit flies. There, she discovered the power of the drosophila model organism to explore the neural mechanisms underlying behaviours. Her goal is to bridge the gap between neurons, circuits and behaviours, to get a greater understanding of how the brain works. Now part of the MIBTP PhD programme, her PhD will focus on investigating the effects of chronic stress on the risk-taking behaviour of fruit flies.
James Wenger-Master’s Student
James holds an BSc in computer science from the University of Exeter and an MSc in Applied Neuroscience from Kings College London. He has a keen interest in the underlying biological and environmental factors of neurodevelopmental conditions, how these impact symptoms and potential therapeutic approaches to ameliorate severity levels. James is studying Bioinformatics at the University of Birmingham and is working in Dr Rezaval’s lab, studying the impact of neurotransmitters associated with neurodevelopmental conditions on behaviours using drosophila as a model species. James is member of the British computer society, British neuroscience association and is one of the coordinators for the researchers and students on neurodiversity group.
James holds an BSc in computer science from the University of Exeter and an MSc in Applied Neuroscience from Kings College London. He has a keen interest in the underlying biological and environmental factors of neurodevelopmental conditions, how these impact symptoms and potential therapeutic approaches to ameliorate severity levels. James is studying Bioinformatics at the University of Birmingham and is working in Dr Rezaval’s lab, studying the impact of neurotransmitters associated with neurodevelopmental conditions on behaviours using drosophila as a model species. James is member of the British computer society, British neuroscience association and is one of the coordinators for the researchers and students on neurodiversity group.
Amber Kewin- Research Associate
Amber grew up in a small town in regional Queensland. She then moved to Brisbane to complete a Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Honours) at the University of Queensland. During her undergraduate degree she became particularly interested in neurobiology and molecular biology. She completed my Honours and then MPhil studies in the lab of Associate Professor Sean Millard validating candidate ALS genes in Drosophila. Following the completion of my MPhil she joined the lab of Professor Bruno van Swinderen as a Senior Research technician working on projects studying Drosophila sleep stages and presynaptic mechanisms of general anaesthesia.
Amber grew up in a small town in regional Queensland. She then moved to Brisbane to complete a Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Honours) at the University of Queensland. During her undergraduate degree she became particularly interested in neurobiology and molecular biology. She completed my Honours and then MPhil studies in the lab of Associate Professor Sean Millard validating candidate ALS genes in Drosophila. Following the completion of my MPhil she joined the lab of Professor Bruno van Swinderen as a Senior Research technician working on projects studying Drosophila sleep stages and presynaptic mechanisms of general anaesthesia.
Laurie Cazale-Debat- Former Marie Skłodowska-Curie Post-doc and current Research Collaborator
Laurie obtained a Research Master in Neuroscience, Cognition and Behaviour from the University of Toulouse., France Her scientific interests have focused on understanding how sensory and social experiences occurring during early developmental stages impact the expression of social behaviours in arthropods. For her PhD, Laurie joined the lab of Jean-François Ferveur, University of Burgundy, Dijon, where she addressed this question using Drosophila as a model organism. Taking advantage of sophisticated neurogenetic tools available in fruit flies, she studied changes in adult behaviour following exposure to pheromones during larval stages.Laurie was awarded a prestigious Marie Curie fellowship to pursue postdoctoral research in our lab, which she completed last year. She remains actively involved in our research, collaborating with Megan on a project examining the social modulation of decision-making.
Laurie obtained a Research Master in Neuroscience, Cognition and Behaviour from the University of Toulouse., France Her scientific interests have focused on understanding how sensory and social experiences occurring during early developmental stages impact the expression of social behaviours in arthropods. For her PhD, Laurie joined the lab of Jean-François Ferveur, University of Burgundy, Dijon, where she addressed this question using Drosophila as a model organism. Taking advantage of sophisticated neurogenetic tools available in fruit flies, she studied changes in adult behaviour following exposure to pheromones during larval stages.Laurie was awarded a prestigious Marie Curie fellowship to pursue postdoctoral research in our lab, which she completed last year. She remains actively involved in our research, collaborating with Megan on a project examining the social modulation of decision-making.
Opeyemi Babatunde Ogunsuyi - Visiting Lecturer
Opeyemi Babatunde Ogunsuyi (PhD) is a lecturer and researcher in the Department of Medical Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria. He was a doctoral student of Prof Ganiyu Oboh and had his PhD in Applied Biochemistry from Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria in 2021. He was a TWAS-CNPq sandwich doctoral fellow and ICGEB postdoctoral fellow at the Biochemical Toxicology Lab, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Brazil under the supervision of Prof Joao B.T. Rocha. His research work primarily focuses on the role of natural products in the prevention/management of neurodegenerative diseases. He has had opportunity to be trained and worked in Nigeria and abroad with various model organisms including fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), lobster cockroach (Nauphoeta cinerea) and rodents. He is visiting the Rezaval lab as a fellow of the African Research Excellence Fund (AREF) to investigate: ´Building Research Capacity in Novel Gender-Based Behavioral and Neural Circuit Evaluation Techniques for the Assessment of Solanum Vegetables as Dietary Intervention for Alzheimer's Disease´. This study will involve the use of fruit flies as model organism. His passion to provide answers to lingering health challenges in Africa motivated him to compete for this AREF Fellowship.
Opeyemi Babatunde Ogunsuyi (PhD) is a lecturer and researcher in the Department of Medical Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria. He was a doctoral student of Prof Ganiyu Oboh and had his PhD in Applied Biochemistry from Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria in 2021. He was a TWAS-CNPq sandwich doctoral fellow and ICGEB postdoctoral fellow at the Biochemical Toxicology Lab, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Brazil under the supervision of Prof Joao B.T. Rocha. His research work primarily focuses on the role of natural products in the prevention/management of neurodegenerative diseases. He has had opportunity to be trained and worked in Nigeria and abroad with various model organisms including fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), lobster cockroach (Nauphoeta cinerea) and rodents. He is visiting the Rezaval lab as a fellow of the African Research Excellence Fund (AREF) to investigate: ´Building Research Capacity in Novel Gender-Based Behavioral and Neural Circuit Evaluation Techniques for the Assessment of Solanum Vegetables as Dietary Intervention for Alzheimer's Disease´. This study will involve the use of fruit flies as model organism. His passion to provide answers to lingering health challenges in Africa motivated him to compete for this AREF Fellowship.
- Christy Morris-Barnes - MSci student
Christy is a fourth year MSci Biological Sciences student currently working on a research project in the Rezaval lab with a focus on understanding risk reward mechanisms in the brain.
Christy is a fourth year MSci Biological Sciences student currently working on a research project in the Rezaval lab with a focus on understanding risk reward mechanisms in the brain.
