Monica Dus

Monica Dus is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at the University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. Her research centers on how diet reshapes brain physiology and behavior through metabolic-epigenetic pathways, integrating molecular biology, genomics, and behavioral neuroscience to understand nutrient-brain interactions.

Dr. Dus investigates neuroepigenetic mechanisms where nutrients act as biological sensors, regulators, and actuators. Her lab explores how non-genetic information (RNA modifications, chromatin changes, metabolites) modulates behavior, with emphasis on sugar's impact on taste plasticity, food memory circuits, and neural reward valuation. Using Drosophila and rodent models, she examines diet-induced changes at transcriptional/post-transcriptional levels, revealing how metabolic-epigenetic pathways reprogram neural function and influence health outcomes from development to aging.

Analysis of her 2022-2025 publications shows a cohesive focus on nutrient signaling in neural circuits. Key trends include RNA methylation's role in insulin translation, diet-induced taste/memory plasticity, and nutrient-sensing neurons governing reproductive/feeding behaviors. Her work bridges nutrigenomics, neuroscience, and metabolism, demonstrating how dietary components like sugar reprogram gene expression to alter behavior and disease susceptibility.

Major scientific recognition includes:

• Guggenheim Fellow in Biology (2023)
• White House Fellow (2023-24) placed with the Department of the Navy

She actively mentors students in her neuroepigenetics lab, emphasizing molecular and behavioral techniques. Her lab culture prioritizes Rigor, Curiosity, Creativity, Perseverance, Teamwork, and Civic Engagement. As inaugural Director of U-M's Office of National Laboratories and member of a bipartisan U.S. Science & Technology task force, she drives science policy initiatives while leading public engagement through podcasts, children's books, and educational videos.

The Dus lab operates as a collaborative hub committed to democratizing science. They produce public-facing content like the children's book Sugar Buzz and the podcast How to Science, embodying their mission to integrate 'Science into the World and the World into Science' through community outreach and civic engagement.