People
'None of us is as good as all of us'
Carolina Rezaval- Group leader
Carolina is Professor of Neurogenetics in the School of Biosciences. Born in Patagonia, Argentina, she earned her PhD in Biology from the University of Buenos Aires, studying circadian rhythms and neurodegeneration in Drosophila with Dr Fernanda Ceriani. Her postdoctoral work at the University of Oxford focused on the genetic and neural basis of sexually dimorphic behaviours in flies. As a BBSRC Research Co-Investigator with Prof. Stephen Goodwin, she examined how differences in male and female fly brains drive distinct behaviours. Carolina was awarded a Birmingham Fellowship and established her research group in mid 2018. She was promoted to Associate Professor in 2022 and Professor in 2025 and currently leads the Year 3 Cellular Neurobiology module. Carolina is a Fellow of the FENS-Kavli Network of Excellence and her research has been supported by UKRI, Leverhulme Trust, the British Council, The Royal Society, and the Wellcome Trust.
Carolina is Professor of Neurogenetics in the School of Biosciences. Born in Patagonia, Argentina, she earned her PhD in Biology from the University of Buenos Aires, studying circadian rhythms and neurodegeneration in Drosophila with Dr Fernanda Ceriani. Her postdoctoral work at the University of Oxford focused on the genetic and neural basis of sexually dimorphic behaviours in flies. As a BBSRC Research Co-Investigator with Prof. Stephen Goodwin, she examined how differences in male and female fly brains drive distinct behaviours. Carolina was awarded a Birmingham Fellowship and established her research group in mid 2018. She was promoted to Associate Professor in 2022 and Professor in 2025 and currently leads the Year 3 Cellular Neurobiology module. Carolina is a Fellow of the FENS-Kavli Network of Excellence and her research has been supported by UKRI, Leverhulme Trust, the British Council, The Royal Society, and the Wellcome Trust.
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.
Opeyemi Babatunde Ogunsuyi - Visiting Lecturer
Opeyemi Babatunde Ogunsuyi is a lecturer and researcher in the Department of Medical Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria. He was a PhD student with Prof Ganiyu Oboh, 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 is a lecturer and researcher in the Department of Medical Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria. He was a PhD student with Prof Ganiyu Oboh, 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.
Joe Rogers - MIBTP PhD student
Joe obtained his undergraduate degree in molecular biology, and MSc in Physiology, from the University of Wyoming in the US. His scientific interests lie in understanding the neural processes and composites that drive behaviour. During his masters program, his research was focused on understanding the role of paraventricular hypothalamic oxytocin neurons in both social behaviour and thermoregulation. Joe was accepted on the BBSRC-MIBTP programme and will undertake his PhD in the Rezaval lab. His project will focus on how the brain makes decisions during conflicting situations.
Joe obtained his undergraduate degree in molecular biology, and MSc in Physiology, from the University of Wyoming in the US. His scientific interests lie in understanding the neural processes and composites that drive behaviour. During his masters program, his research was focused on understanding the role of paraventricular hypothalamic oxytocin neurons in both social behaviour and thermoregulation. Joe was accepted on the BBSRC-MIBTP programme and will undertake his PhD in the Rezaval lab. His project will focus on how the brain makes decisions during conflicting situations.
Lennart Baumeister-Senior Research Technitian
Lennart obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Würzburg, Germany, where he focused on neuroethology and the age-dependent architecture of the honey bee brain. He went on to complete a Master’s degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Cologne with Kei Ito and Thomas Riemesperger, specialising in neuroscience and behaviour analysis. During and following his Master’s, he investigated the neuronal pathways underlying sepsis-induced behavioural changes in the fruit fly. His scientific interests centre on how neuromodulation shapes internal states and, in turn, behavioural outcomes. Lennart joined the Rezaval Lab as a Senior Research Technician.
