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