Branco Weiss Fellow Since
2025
Research Category
Neuroscience, behavioral ecology
Research Location
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA
Background
Climate change is causing rapid habitat transformations, presenting unprecedented challenges to animal populations worldwide. Animals that exhibit flexible social behaviors may better survive disturbances like drought or extreme temperatures. However, our understanding of how animal societies adjust behaviorally and neurologically to sudden environmental changes remains limited. Neuroscience typically examines social behaviors in simplified, stable conditions, leaving a critical knowledge gap about how realistic ecological contexts influence brain function and social behavior. Dr. Testard’s research aims to address this gap by investigating how animal brains orchestrate social adjustments critical to survival in ecologically realistic scenarios.
Details of Research
Animals frequently adjust their social structures in response to ecological disturbances. Dr. Camille Testard aims to elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying these adaptive social shifts by studying the African striped mouse, a species known for its remarkable behavioral plasticity under severe environmental conditions. By developing a laboratory environment to mimic ecological disturbances and integrating behavioral tracking, physiological assessments, transcriptomics, and neural circuit manipulations, Dr. Testard will study how hypothalamic circuits regulate these social adaptations. Ultimately, this research could identify molecular and cellular pathways that promote social resilience to escalating ecological disruptions.
