Julian P. Meeks

Dr. Julian P. Meeks is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Neuroscience, Pediatrics, and Pharmacology and Physiology at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. He holds joint appointments across these departments, reflecting his interdisciplinary research focus. He earned a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Saint Louis University (2001) and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Washington University in St. Louis (2006), where his doctoral work under Dr. Steven Mennerick explored hippocampal cellular and synaptic physiology.

His research lab, the Chemosensation and Social Learning Lab, investigates how mammalian chemosensory systems—particularly the accessory olfactory system (AOS)—guide social and reproductive behaviors. Key projects include studying neural circuits in the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB), bile acid receptors, and mechanisms of steroid detection. The lab employs advanced techniques like machine learning analytics and light-sheet microscopy to dissect these systems.

Dr. Meeks has published over 30 journal articles, focusing on chemosensory neuron responsiveness, neuroplasticity, and behavioral plasticity. His work bridges molecular, cellular, and systems neuroscience, with implications for understanding social behavior and neurodegenerative pathways. He mentors graduate students (e.g., Anthony Crum, Samanta Jerin) and postdocs, fostering interdisciplinary training in neuroscience.

His academic affiliations include the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience and multiple Ph.D. programs, underscoring his role in training future neuroscientists. The lab is located at URMC’s Elmwood Avenue campus, emphasizing collaborative research in biomedical discovery.