Echinoderms, such as starfish, possess a unique but poorly studied sensorimotor system. They navigate the environment using hydraulic locomotion, pumping seawater throughout tube feet and tentacles, which detect chemosensory cues and propel the animal towards prey. Remarkably, starfish coordinate hundreds of tube feet in the absence of a central “brain”.
My research aims to identify the molecular basis of starfish chemosensation through evolutionary and transcriptomic analyses, and to characterize their chemosensory receptors biophysically and structurally. I will then leverage the obtained molecular information in behavioral experiments and for recording the sensory-evoked water shuttling in starfish. This work will reveal how chemosensory signals drive coordinated movement, advancing our understanding of sensorimotor control in echinoderms, and broadly informing the principles of neuromuscular evolution in animals.
I am hoping to address the disconnect between detailed molecular mechanisms revealed by structural biology and the contextual perspective of whole organisms. As a trained structural biologist, I have a deep appreciation for the power of this field, especially with its rapid evolution and increasing accessibility. I also recognize the need to integrate this mechanistic knowledge with broader biological contexts. My research will bridge this gap by integrating structural biology of transmembrane receptors with whole-organism physiology and behavior to study specific molecular mechanisms in their natural setting. I believe this type of integrative research, which few groups currently pursue, represents the future of biology and, when effectively communicated, can connect people, foster understanding, and contribute to solving global challenges.