Dr. Mareike Pauls-Selcho is a Group Leader (Gruppenleiterin) at the Department of Animal and Behavioral Physiology at the University of Leipzig, a position she has held since July 2019. Previously, she served as a Group Leader at the Department of Neurobiology and Genetics at the University of Würzburg from January 2018 to June 2019. Her academic career includes postdoctoral research at Kawasaki Medical School in Japan, the University of Würzburg, and the University of Marburg. Dr. Pauls-Selcho completed her doctoral studies (Dr. rer. nat.) at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland between May 2007 and September 2010. She earned her Diploma in Biology from the University of Würzburg, where she studied from September 2001 to September 2006. Her research focuses on how sensory stimuli modulate animal behavior through nervous system interactions. Specifically, she investigates the anatomical and functional properties of aminergic and peptidergic neurons, which play crucial roles in modulating neural networks that regulate behaviors such as locomotor activity and memory formation. Her laboratory employs advanced techniques including Connectomics (FlyWire.ai), Ca 2+ and cAMP imaging, immunohistochemistry, light and electron microscopy, neurogenetics, optogenetics, and behavioral biology. Analysis of Dr. Pauls-Selcho's publication record reveals a strong focus on Drosophila neurobiology, particularly examining octopamine signaling in learning, memory, and sensory processing. Her work spans multiple subfields including neural circuit mapping, circadian rhythms, sensory-motor integration, and neuromodulation. A significant contribution was demonstrating that octopaminergic neurons contact nearly all sensory organs of the fruit fly, providing evidence for peripheral modulation of sensory networks. Dr. Pauls-Selcho has established herself as a productive researcher with publications in high-impact journals including Nature, Current Biology, and Learning & Memory. Her work demonstrates interdisciplinary approaches combining neuroanatomy, functional imaging, and behavioral analysis to understand fundamental neural mechanisms. As a Group Leader at the University of Leipzig, Dr. Pauls-Selcho leads research projects and offers opportunities for BSc, MSc, and PhD students to engage in cutting-edge neuroscience research. Her laboratory continues to investigate the fine-tuning of sensory-motor circuits by aminergic systems, with particular emphasis on peripheral modulation of sensory function.



