Drago Andres Guggiana-Nilo

Dissertation Title:  Colors Underwater: a behavioral and neural systems study on color vision in the larval zebrafish PhD Dissertation Advisor:  Dr. Florian Engert, Dept. of Molecular and Cellular Biology My PhD research focused on the neuronal circuits involved in color sensing in the zebrafish larva, and how they result in color-dependent behaviors.  In particular, I'm tried to understand how is ultraviolet light sensed by the larval eye and how is this information used to generate avoidance behaviors.  I tackled these questions with a combination of methods ranging from behavioral recording and classification to 2-photon functional calcium imaging in awake, behaving animals.  Outside of lab I spent my time playing drums and in Ballroom and Salsa dancing.