Benedict Collins, Ph.D.
Office Location
I did my undergraduate and Ph.D. studies in the UK, then moved to NYU to study how genes control circadian rhythms of behavior in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. I then did a post-doc at the University of Zurich in Switzerland, extending these studies to show how a small population of the clock neurons that generate circadian rhythms in the mouse brain control the daily siesta. I have taught at Sacred Heart University since 2021.
Degrees & Certifications
- Ph.D.: Genetics, University of Leicester, UK
- BA (Hons): Natural Science (Genetics), University of Cambridge, UK
Teaching Responsibilities
- BI 345/346 Neurobiology
- BI 113/114 Concepts in Biology
- BI 205 Essentials of Neuroscience
- BI 299 Behavioral Genetics
Research Interests
I am interested in how genes affect neurons, and neurons then control behaviour, using flies and mice to understand how neural circuits control circadian rhythms, sleep and learning and memory. This involves using techniques such as optogenetics to directly manipulate neurons and measure their effect on behaviour.
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