Biology Seminar Series: Erik Duboue
By: TAMU Biology
Biology Seminar Series Welcomes Dr. Erik Duboué
The Department of Biology is pleased to announce that Dr. Erik Duboué will be the guest speaker for our seminar series today, March 18, 2025, at 4:00 PM in BSBE 115. The seminar will be hosted by Dr. Alex Keene.
About Dr. Erik Duboué:
Dr. Erik Duboué received his PhD at New York University under the mentorship of Richard Borowski. He then conducted postdoctoral research with Marnie Halpern at the Carnegie Institution for Science before establishing his own lab at Florida Atlantic University in 2017. Dr. Duboué’s research focuses on understanding how the brain drives behavior and how changes can arise in both pathological and adaptive contexts. His lab utilizes small fish species to explore these questions.
Seminar Title:
Studying Brain-Wide Circuits and Their Functions in Pathological and Adaptive Behaviors
Abstract:
Understanding how brain-wide circuits regulate essential behaviors is fundamental to neuroscience, particularly in the context of both pathological states, such as neurodevelopmental disorders, and adaptive changes driven by evolution. Dr. Duboué’s research leverages small fish models, including zebrafish and cavefish, to investigate how neural circuits are shaped by early-life stress and evolutionary pressures.
In the first part of his talk, Dr. Duboué will examine how chronic early-life stress (ELS) leads to persistent anxiety-like behaviors in zebrafish, mirroring findings in mammalian models. Using behavioral assays, neuroendocrine profiling, and live imaging techniques, he defines the critical period during which stress alters brain development. His findings highlight the role of glucocorticoid signaling in long-term stress susceptibility, providing insight into the molecular mechanisms linking early-life experiences to adult behavioral dysfunction.
In the second part, Dr. Duboué will explore the evolution of neural circuits in cavefish (Astyanax mexicanus), a model system for understanding adaptive changes in behavior. By comparing neural activity patterns in cave and surface morphs, he investigates how sensorimotor gating and feeding-related behaviors have been rewired to accommodate life in extreme environments. Using genetic tools and brain-wide functional imaging, he identifies key circuits that drive species-specific behavioral adaptations. Together, these studies provide a comparative framework for understanding how neural circuits are shaped by both environmental and genetic factors, offering new perspectives on the interplay between stress, adaptation, and brain function.
Join us for this insightful seminar and engage in a stimulating discussion on the latest advancements in neuroscience.
