Karla Kaun

Karla Kaun is an Associate Professor of Neuroscience at Brown University, specializing in the genetic and neural mechanisms of reward and addiction. Her work combines genetics, behavior, and in vivo imaging using Drosophila melanogaster as a model system. She leads the KAUN Lab, which investigates how drugs of abuse alter molecular pathways in neural circuits. Key affiliations include the Carney Institute for Brain Science and collaborations with institutions like Janelia Research Campus and Bar Ilan University.

Education: PhD (2007, University of Toronto), BSc (2001, University of British Columbia). Postdoctoral training at UCSF (2007-2013) under Ulrike Heberlein. Awards include the Smith Family Award and recognition from the International Behavioral and Neural Genetics Society.

Research focuses on alcohol-induced changes in neuronal circuits, mitochondrial trafficking, and transcriptional regulation. Notable grants include NSF-BSF funding for studying co-transmitting neuron properties and NIDA support for polysubstance use research. The lab develops tools like the flyGrAM apparatus for group locomotor activity analysis. Collaborations span molecular biology, biochemistry, and computational neuroscience.