I am interested in understanding the mechanisms that drive obesity and metabolic syndrome in the context of circadian disruption. Our 24/7 society has created an environment where the daily cycles of activity/rest, feeding/fasting, and light/dark exposure are no longer naturally aligned. Working at night, eating at night, and being exposed to light at night all increase the risk of having metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, I study the relationship between the circadian system and metabolism in healthy and diseased conditions, focusing on the role of the nervous system.
Currently, I am working as a postdoctoral fellow at the de Lartigue lab at Monell Chemical Senses in Philadelphia, PA, USA, supported by a fellowship from the American Heart Association. At the de Lartigue lab, we study the neurobiology of interoception, the process by which organisms can sense their internal state. In particular, I am studying how feedback signals from the body are communicated to the brain to influence circadian rhythms.
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