Eric Hoopfer

Eric Hoopfer is an Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at Carleton College since 2019, with a research focus on neural circuits underlying social behaviors in Drosophila. He received his PhD from Stanford University and has held positions at Janelia Research Campus (2014) and Caltech (2019). His work integrates neurogenetic, optogenetic, and behavioral analysis to dissect aggression, grooming, and threat displays in fruit flies.

• PhD, Stanford University
• Visiting Scientist, Janelia Research Campus (2014)
• Postdoctoral Fellow & Research Scientist, Caltech (2019)

Research interests include neural circuits, behavioral decision-making, and neuromodulatory systems in Drosophila, with emphasis on aggression, sensory processing, and motor sequencing. His publications span 2024-2008, covering topics from somatotopy in grooming to hormonal regulation of metamorphosis in Xenopus. Key methodologies include optogenetics, high-throughput behavioral assays, and neurogenetic analysis.

His scientific contributions focus on aggression circuits, neural state persistence, social action detection, and axon pruning mechanisms. Collaborations and professional experiences at Stanford, Janelia, and Caltech have shaped his interdisciplinary approach.

Eric teaches courses such as Foundations in Neuroscience and Neurons, Circuits and Behavior, supervising directed research projects in neuroscience. His office is located in Olin Hall 101B at Carleton College.