People

Elizabeth S. Heckscher, PhD

My lab studies the assembly, function, and evolution of circuits. Specifically, we focus on sensorimotor circuits, such as those in the spinal cord. These circuits process a variety of stimuli such as heat, light touch, pain, and self-movement. These circuits generate patterned muscle contractions underly animal movement.



Movement control- My lab is interested in understanding how neural circuits implement the motor programs that allow animals to move. Our goal is to understand the functional architecture of a sensorimotor system at the cellular level.



Circuit assembly- We are interested in understanding how circuits self-assemble starting from a small number of stem cells. This should generate developmental insight relevant to stem cell reprogramming that could be used to replace diseased/damaged neural tissue.



Evolution of circuits- We are interested in how sensorimotor circuits change over evolutionary time scales to allow animals to control different body forms and behaviors.

University of Oregon
Eugene, OR
Postdoc - Neuronal Circuits
2015

Brown University
Providence, RI
BS - Biology
2008

University of California
San Francisco, CA
PhD - Cell Biology
2007

Sequential addition of neuronal stem cell temporal cohorts generates a feed-forward circuit in the Drosophila larval nerve cord.
Sequential addition of neuronal stem cell temporal cohorts generates a feed-forward circuit in the Drosophila larval nerve cord. Elife. 2022 06 20; 11.
PMID: 35723253

The Role of Even-Skipped in Drosophila Larval Somatosensory Circuit Assembly.
The Role of Even-Skipped in Drosophila Larval Somatosensory Circuit Assembly. eNeuro. 2022 Jan-Feb; 9(1).
PMID: 35031555

RNA-binding protein syncrip regulates starvation-induced hyperactivity in adult Drosophila.
RNA-binding protein syncrip regulates starvation-induced hyperactivity in adult Drosophila. PLoS Genet. 2021 02; 17(2):e1009396.
PMID: 33617535

Development of motor circuits: From neuronal stem cells and neuronal diversity to motor circuit assembly.
Development of motor circuits: From neuronal stem cells and neuronal diversity to motor circuit assembly. Curr Top Dev Biol. 2021; 142:409-442.
PMID: 33706923

Temporal transcription factors determine circuit membership by permanently altering motor neuron-to-muscle synaptic partnerships.
Temporal transcription factors determine circuit membership by permanently altering motor neuron-to-muscle synaptic partnerships. Elife. 2020 05 11; 9.
PMID: 32391795

How prolonged expression of Hunchback, a temporal transcription factor, re-wires locomotor circuits.
How prolonged expression of Hunchback, a temporal transcription factor, re-wires locomotor circuits. Elife. 2019 09 10; 8.
PMID: 31502540

Direction Selectivity in Drosophila Proprioceptors Requires the Mechanosensory Channel Tmc.
Direction Selectivity in Drosophila Proprioceptors Requires the Mechanosensory Channel Tmc. Curr Biol. 2019 03 18; 29(6):945-956.e3.
PMID: 30853433

Temporal Cohorts of Lineage-Related Neurons Perform Analogous Functions in Distinct Sensorimotor Circuits.
Temporal Cohorts of Lineage-Related Neurons Perform Analogous Functions in Distinct Sensorimotor Circuits. Curr Biol. 2017 May 22; 27(10):1521-1528.e4.
PMID: 28502656

The Hunchback temporal transcription factor establishes, but is not required to maintain, early-born neuronal identity.
Hirono K, Kohwi M, Clark MQ, Heckscher ES, Doe CQ. The Hunchback temporal transcription factor establishes, but is not required to maintain, early-born neuronal identity. Neural Dev. 2017 Jan 31; 12(1):1.
PMID: 28137283

Using Linear Agarose Channels to Study Drosophila Larval Crawling Behavior.
Using Linear Agarose Channels to Study Drosophila Larval Crawling Behavior. J Vis Exp. 2016 11 26; (117).
PMID: 27929468

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Postdoctoral Fellowship
American Heart Association
2012 - 2015

Predoctoral Fellowship
Howard Hughes Medical Insitutue
2000 - 2005

Sigma Xi Membership
Brown University Chapter of Sigma Xi
1998

Academic All-Ivy Selection (fencing)
Ivy-League
1996