معرفی
Dr. Deniz Ertekin is a Research Fellow at the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), The University of Queensland. Their research focuses on understanding neural mechanisms underlying sleep regulation, visual attention, and behavioral plasticity using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism. Key areas of investigation include the interplay between metabolic signaling (via peripheral fat bodies), sleep homeostasis, and cognitive functions. Dr. Ertekin's work employs advanced neurogenetic techniques, electrophysiology, and behavioral assays to dissect neural circuits involved in attention, anesthetic effects, and sleep-wake transitions.
Education: Completed a PhD in Neuroscience at The University of Queensland (2020), focusing on diet-sleep-attention interactions in Drosophila. Prior academic background includes studies in molecular biology and genetics.
Research Interests:
- Cognitive neurobiology using insect models
- Sleep-wake cycle regulation
- Neuroendocrine signaling pathways
- Drug effects on synaptic transmission
- Neural circuit plasticity
- Evolutionary conservation of behavioral mechanisms
Publications highlight contributions to understanding how cytokines modulate attention/sleep trade-offs, propofol's impact on glutamatergic synapses, and sleep's role in visual attention. Research also explores developmental mechanisms governing neural connectivity in the Drosophila visual system.
Grants/Advising: No current grants or advising roles explicitly listed in provided materials.
Labs/Teams: Primary affiliation with QBI's Neurogenetics and Behavior research group, collaborating with Prof. Bruno van Swinderen's laboratory on projects involving Drosophila neurobiology.
