Gaspar Jekely

Professor Gaspar Jekely is a faculty member at the University of Exeter, affiliated with the Living Systems Institute. His research focuses on the structure, function, and evolution of neural circuits, neuromodulation mechanisms, and the evolution of neuronal cell types in marine organisms, particularly Platynereis dumerilii larvae.

• Ph.D. in Genetics, Eötvös Loránd University (1999)
• Diploma in Biology and Genetics, Eötvös Loránd University (1995)

Gaspar employs whole-body connectomics, circuit-wide activity imaging, neurogenetics, and genome editing to map neural circuits and neuromodulatory networks at cellular resolution. His work aims to uncover principles of neuromodulation and circuit flexibility applicable to complex nervous systems, including humans. He also explores contextual neuromodulation changes during development and links network outputs to molecular functions at synapses.

His research spans interdisciplinary domains, integrating neuroscience, evolutionary biology, genetics, and marine biology with computational approaches. The work at the Living Systems Institute emphasizes collaboration and innovative methods to study small, experimentally tractable nervous systems.

Professor Jekely leads the JekelyLab, a research group dedicated to synthesizing insights from Platynereis studies into broader biological understanding. His career includes leadership roles at the Max Planck Institute and EMBL, with expertise in transgenic techniques and synaptic resolution mapping.