Leslie Griffith

Leslie Griffith is the Nancy Lurie Marks Professor of Neuroscience and Director of the Volen National Center for Complex Systems Research at Brandeis University's Department of Biology. Her research program focuses on understanding the biochemical and cellular basis of behavior using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism. Griffith's lab employs genetic, imaging, electrophysiological, and behavioral approaches to investigate complex neural processes.

Her primary research interests include sleep regulation, learning and memory mechanisms, circadian rhythms, and neural circuit function. Griffith has made significant contributions to understanding how sleep architecture affects memory consolidation, the role of microRNAs in regulating sleep and behavior, and the neural circuits underlying associative learning in fruit flies. Her work often bridges molecular mechanisms with organism-level behavior, providing insights into fundamental neuroscience principles.

Analysis of Griffith's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on the relationship between sleep and memory, with particular attention to how sleep structure (rather than just total sleep amount) influences cognitive function. Her research has demonstrated that food availability modulates the sleep-memory relationship and that specific neural circuits involving serotonin and dopamine play critical roles in these processes. The use of Drosophila as a genetically tractable model system has allowed her lab to identify specific genes, neurons, and circuits involved in these complex behaviors.

As Director of the Volen National Center for Complex Systems Research, Griffith oversees interdisciplinary research initiatives that bring together scientists from neuroscience, physics, computer science, and other fields to study complex biological systems. Her leadership in this role demonstrates her commitment to fostering collaborative, cross-disciplinary approaches to understanding neural function.