William Schafer

William Schafer is a Researcher at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB), part of the University of Cambridge. His work focuses on elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms of nervous system function and behavior using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism.

His research spans two major areas: (1) identifying molecules responsible for ionotropic sensory transduction, such as channels involved in touch, pain, and salt chemosensation, and (2) investigating how monoamine and peptide neuromodulators control brain states and learning through extrasynaptic connectomes. He employs optogenetics, electrophysiology, behavioral phenotyping, and network science approaches.

The group's recent publications highlight their work on neuropeptidergic connectomes, TMC mechanotransduction channels, and network control principles in C. elegans. These studies intersect neuroscience, molecular biology, and computational modeling, emphasizing conserved mechanisms in complex nervous systems.

His research group includes Isabel Beets, Isabel Conze, Amy Courtney, Jeong Dajeong, Joseph Gehler, Jimin Kim, Jun Meng, Lidia Ripoll Sanchez, Keertana Venkatesh, Denise Walker, and Xinyi Yang.