Niels Ringstad

Niels Ringstad is a Professor in the Department of Cell Biology and the Department of Neuroscience at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and serves as Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Cell Biology. He holds a PhD from Yale University and completed postdoctoral training in the Horvitz Laboratory at MIT. His research focuses on understanding molecular mechanisms underlying neuromodulatory systems in the brain, using the nematode C. elegans as a model organism to study serotonin, dopamine, and neuropeptide signaling. His work also explores the discovery of novel neuroactive compounds targeting neuromodulation in vivo.

• Education: PhD in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from Yale University.
• Postdoctoral Training: MIT, Horvitz Laboratory (Developmental Biology and Genetics).

His research interests include developmental genetics, genome integrity, and behavioral genetics. He investigates how neuromodulatory systems control behaviors such as food sensing, chemosensory responses, and reproductive behavior, leveraging C. elegans' genetic tractability. Key areas include the role of ion channels in mechanosensation, vesicular transporters in neurotransmission, and microbial metabolite interactions with endogenous signaling pathways.

Ringstad’s lab has developed innovative tools like the SAMPL system for high-throughput behavioral analysis in small organisms. His publications span topics from neurodevelopmental mechanisms to neuropharmacology, with a focus on translating findings to treat neurological disorders. His work bridges molecular, cellular, and translational neuroscience to advance our understanding of neuromodulation in health and disease.

His lab is located at 540-562 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, and can be reached via email or phone at 212-263-3753.