It may not be what you do, but when you do it
Each and every day, the sun rises and sets. The cyclic nature of the environment is mirrored in daily rhythms displayed by nearly every form of life on this planet. Under the direction of biological systems for keeping time, behavior and physiological events are programmed for certain times of the solar cycle, anticipating daily change rather than being passively driven by environmental variations. I investigate the structure and function of the circadian clock within the mammalian brain using the nocturnal hamster as an animal model.

A circadian clock shop
In mammals, a circadian clock within the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus programs myriad rhythms that influence psychological and biological processes. The clock contains multiple, autonomous oscillators that display different inherent period lengths but synchronize with one another through mechanisms that remain ill defined. A primary focus of my research seeks to understand how the interactions between oscillators within the clock influence the shape of circadian rhythms.

Living by the clock
Modern times demand much of the clock that coordinates circadian rhythms in our bodies. After transmeridian travel, our internal rhythms are slow to shift to the new time zone, resulting in jetlag that might last for days to weeks. Also, shift work is increasingly becoming a common feature of the workplace; however, practical and effective means for promoting synchronization to the new work schedule remains elusive. My work addresses the consequences of aberrant synchronization and investigates factors that increase circadian plasticity.