The research in Dr. Hofmann's laboratory seeks to understand the molecular and hormonal mechanisms that underlie social behavior and its evolution. Current projects focus on two main areas:
1) Identifying genes and brain regions involved in encoding and regulating social behavior and sex roles in the Burton's Mouthbrooder cichlid (Astatotilapia burtoni) from Lake Tanganyika in East Africa and the Convict Cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) from Lake Nicaragua in Central America.
2) Comparative analyses of the ecological and molecular basis and evolution of divergent social organization (e.g., monogamy vs. polygamy; social behavior types) across vertebrates using genomic and computational approaches.
We have a deep commitment to meaningful research mentorship and a successful track record.
Research for credit is possible. We also have substantial experience with supervising honors theses and various certificates.
We generally prefer to recruit students during their first or second year in college.
Students considering graduate school are particularly welcome, but we have also mentored many pre-med students. Students who are graduate school-bound usually are accepted to top graduate programs after doing research in our lab.
Expected workload is 12-15 hours/week, though it is understood that there is some flexibility.
The first semester in the lab is usually spent with learning the model system and basic lab and/or analysis techniques.
Many students eventually develop their own project and apply for an Undergraduate Research Fellowship (URF) award (our success rate is 100%)
Most of our students who commit to a research project present their research at the Undergraduate Research Forum, some even at national or international conferences.
Many of our students become co-authors on papers published in peer-reviewed journals.
