About
Claude Desplan is a Silver Professor and Professor of Biology and Neural Science at New York University. His research focuses on neural development, stochastic choices in sensory systems, and aging mechanisms in social insects. He holds affiliations with the Neuroscience Institute at NYU Langone Medical School and the Center for Neural Science.
- Education: PhD in Biomedical Sciences from Université Paris VII (1983), B.S. from École Normale Supérieure (1975)
Research Interests: His lab investigates how stochastic processes generate neural diversity in Drosophila, including photoreceptor specification and optic lobe development. Recent work explores aging and rejuvenation mechanisms in ants (Harpegnathos), linking insulin signaling and epigenetic regulation to longevity. Collaborations with Danny Reinberg’s lab have revealed how social cues influence ant lifespan through molecular pathways.
Publications: Recent work includes studies on neuronal circuit evolution, calcium waves in retinal patterning, and ant social behavior. Key findings include the role of spineless in photoreceptor stochasticity and insulin dynamics in ant longevity.
- Awards: US National Academy of Sciences membership, Grand Prix Charles-Mayer (French Academy of Sciences), Golden Dozen Teaching Award (NYU)
Lab & Students: Mentors include Hannah, Sophia, and Ben, recognized for contributions to motion vision and neural diversity projects. Active in training programs like the Desplan Lab’s undergrad research initiatives (CURB2025).
