Dr Carolina Rezaval BSc, MSc, PhD

• 2009 PhD in Biology. University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
• 2004 BSc, MSc in Biology. University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Carolina Rezaval was born in Patagonia, Argentina. She received a Masters and PhD in Biology from the University of Buenos Aires. Her PhD research focused on the identification of genes involved in neurodegeneration, leading to abnormal circadian behaviour in Drosophila.

She subsequently did her post-doctoral research at the University of Oxford, where she studied the genetic and neural basis of innate sexual behaviours in Drosophila. As a BBSRC researcher co-investigator in Professor Stephen Goodwin’s lab at Oxford, she focused on understanding how the brain differs between the sexes, and how these differences explain distinct behaviours shown by male and female flies. She discovered a specific subset of neurons which, when activated, induces fruit fly females to behave like males, demonstrating that the neural circuitry for male courtship behaviours in fact exists in the female fly brain but remains dormant.

Carolina was awarded a Birmingham Fellowship to start her laboratory at Birmingham University in April, 2018. Her lab focuses on understanding how the brain makes decisions when faced to conflicting options (e.g. mating vs. avoiding predation risk) using Drosophila as a model organism.

Details of Dr Rezaval's post-doctoral research at the University of Oxford (Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour) can be found at www.dpag.ox.ac.uk/team/carolina-rezaval-1.

Watch a 3 minute video about Dr Rezaval's work here: vimeo.com/177551510.

BIO379: Cellular Neurobiology (Module leader)

23318/23319: Cell Biology and Physiology/Essentials of Cell Biology and Physiology (lecturer)

34136: Personal and Academic Development (tutor)

PhD projects are offered in the general area of Behavioural Neurobiology using the fruit-fly Drosophila as a model organism. We study how the brain responds when there are conflicting options available, and how it chooses amongst them. By studying how the brain makes decisions at a genetic, cellular and circuit level, in an accessible experimental system, we aim to reveal fundamental principles underlying behavioural choices that might be present across species. 

Technical approaches include genetics, molecular biology, optogenetics/thermogenetics, behavioural assays, immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy and functional imaging (in collaboration with other research groups). 

Masters projects are offered in the field of Behavioural Neurobiology as above. 

Interested in joining the lab for MSc, MSci, and MRes projects or PhD training? Please, contact Dr Carolina Rezaval by email c.rezaval@bham.ac.uk

We are keen to host domestic and international students who have secured their own funding.

The University of Birmingham offers a number of competitive BBSRC funded PhD positions each year as part of the MIBTP doctoral training scheme, in association with the Universities of Warwick and Leicester. Application deadlines are every January.  If you are interested in this scheme, please get in touch by email to discuss potential projects and applications.

For a list of possible PhD projects offered by Dr Rezaval   https://www.findaphd.com/search/phd.aspx?Keywords=rezaval

Details of Dr Rezaval's post-doctoral research at the University of Oxford (Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour) can be found at www.dpag.ox.ac.uk/team/carolina-rezaval. 

Watch a 3 minute video about Dr Rezaval's work here: vimeo.com/177551510.

Birmingham Fly Facility: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/birmingham-fly-facility/birmingham-fly-facility.aspx

Animals engage in daily activities that are essential for survival and reproduction, such as feeding, mating or fighting for resources. 
How does an animal prioritise one behaviour over others? We know that cues conveying external information (e.g., threats from other animals, access to food) and internal state (e.g., fear, hunger) guide behavioural choices. However, how the brain selects specific actions remains unknown.
 
Our lab addresses this fascinating question using the fruit fly model, Drosophila. Fruit flies exhibit complex behaviours that are controlled by a relatively small brain. Thanks to sophisticated tools available in the fruit fly, we can interrupt specific genes, as well as visualise and manipulate individual neurons with great resolution. With these tools, we can study how the fly brain responds when there are conflicting options available, and how it chooses amongst them​.

By studying how the brain makes decisions at a genetic, cellular and circuit level in an accessible experimental system, we aim to reveal fundamental principles underlying behavioural choices that might be present across species.

Please, visit our lab group website

Science outreach

• Science Evening, SS Philip and James’ Church of England 2017
• Super Science Saturday, National History Museum in Oxford (www.glam.ox.ac.uk/super-science-saturday) 2017
• Generating genius http://www.generatinggenius.org.uk/ 2016
• Vimeo. ‘The Fe-male Brain’. Video about our research. https://vimeo.com/177551510.
• ‘Open Leloir weekend’ http://www.leloir.org.ar/en/2003-2009