Rodrigo Suarez

Associate Professor Rodrigo Suarez is an Associate Professor in the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Queensland. His research focuses on the development and evolution of mammalian brain circuits, particularly the neocortex. He uses molecular, genetic, and imaging techniques to study how developmental processes shape brain connectivity and contribute to evolutionary innovations.

• PhD in Biomedical Sciences from Universidad de Chile.

Research interests include:

• Evolutionary timing of brain development
• Role of neuronal activity in circuit formation
• Comparative neuroanatomy of forebrain structures

Key findings include the discovery of clade-specific brain architectures in extinct species and the role of developmental timing in cortical evolution. His work spans from molecular mechanisms to organism-level outcomes, with applications to neurodevelopmental disorders like autism.

He supervises multiple PhD students and leads a lab investigating brain evolution using marsupials and placental mammals as models. Current grants include ARC Future Fellowships and NHMRC projects.