Matthew D. Nelson

Matthew D. Nelson is a Professor of Biology specializing in the genetics and neurobiology of sleep, particularly in Caenorhabditis elegans. He leads the Nelson Lab, which investigates how neuropeptides and cellular signaling pathways regulate sleep behavior. His research integrates genetics, molecular biology, and behavioral analysis to uncover mechanisms underlying sleep regulation in model organisms.

• Affiliations: Department of Biology
• Education: BS in Mathematics (Pennsylvania State University, 2000), MS in Biology (Villanova University, 2005), PhD in Biology (New York University, 2010)
• Professional Experience: Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania (2011–2014)

Research Interests: Dr. Nelson focuses on identifying sleep-regulating neurons, characterizing neuropeptide signaling pathways, and studying stress-induced sleep mechanisms. His lab uses C. elegans as a model to dissect how neural circuits and cAMP signaling mediate sleep behavior.

Grants & Awards: Recipient of NSF CAREER Award (#1845020) and other grants funding research on sleep regulation and lab equipment acquisition.

Labs/Teams: The Nelson Lab actively involves students in research on sleep genetics and neurobiology, emphasizing undergraduate participation in experiments.