Paul H. Taghert

Paul H. Taghert is a Professor of Neuroscience in the Department of Neuroscience at Washington University School of Medicine. His research focuses on understanding the organization, regulation, and outputs of circadian neural circuits in the Drosophila brain using advanced molecular genetic methods.

Dr. Taghert received his BA in Biology from Reed College in 1975, followed by a PhD in Zoology from the University of Washington in 1981 under advisor James W. Truman. He completed postdoctoral training at Stanford University from 1981-1984 with Corey S. Goodman.

His laboratory has made significant contributions to circadian biology, particularly in identifying roles played by the PDF neuropeptide and its receptor. The lab demonstrated PDF's role as a synchronizer of molecular clocks in pacemaker neurons and discovered that PDF signaling delays Evening Oscillator activity by approximately 8 hours following dawn. Current research expands imaging studies to determine real-time 24-hour patterns of voltage and cyclic nucleotide changes in pacemaker networks, while also investigating the molecular basis for signaling downstream of the PDF receptor.

Analysis of Dr. Taghert's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on circadian neural circuitry, with particular emphasis on neuropeptide signaling mechanisms, calcium dynamics in pacemaker neurons, and the molecular basis of circadian behavior. His work bridges molecular genetics, neurophysiology, and behavioral analysis to understand how circadian information flows through neural networks.

• 2020 AAAS Fellow
• 1985-1987 Sloan Foundation Fellowship
• 1983-1984 NIH Post-Doctoral Fellowship
• 1981-1982 Muscular Dystrophy Association Fellowship
• 1980 NIH Graduate Trainee
• 1976-1979 NSF Pre-Doctoral Fellowship
• 1975 Class of 1921 Prize, Reed College

Dr. Taghert's research has been consistently supported by major funding agencies throughout his career, reflecting the significance of his contributions to neuroscience and circadian biology. His laboratory has produced over 140 publications with more than 10,000 citations, demonstrating substantial impact in the field. The Taghert Lab continues to pioneer innovative approaches to studying neural circuit function in circadian regulation.

The Taghert Laboratory employs a multidisciplinary approach combining genetics, imaging, biochemistry, and behavioral analysis to investigate circadian neural circuits. Recent work has incorporated advanced brain-wide imaging techniques to monitor neural activity across the entire day, revealing unexpected complexities in how pacemaker neurons coordinate daily rhythms.