Jagan Srinivasan

Experience

• 

  University of Pune

  Jan 1994 - Jan 1995

  Research Assistant

  I worked on energy transduction along lipid bilayers during various biological processes for eg. oxidative phosphorylation and photosynthesis. During these processes, the membranes on which the proteins are attached undergo a series of real time changes in conformation allowing the proteins to communicate with each other thereby transducing energy. I used fluorescence probes to track the changes in the properties of membranes during energy transduction.

• 

  Max Planck Institute of Developmental Biology

  Feb 1999 - Dec 2003

  Graduate Student

  I studied the evolution of cell fate specification, using vulva development as a model system and compare Pristionchus pacificus with C. elegans. I carried out several genetic screensto isolate novel vulvaless mutants. I also established a genomics-based approach to facilitate molecular cloning of mutations by generating a genetic and physical map of P. pacificus.

• 

  Caltech

  Jan 2004 - Aug 2012

  The overall goal of my research is to understand the molecular mechanisms by which endogenous small-molecule signals regulate diverse biological outcomes. To address this question, I am studying the neurobiological, and genetic basis of small-molecule signaling in C. elegans. I am currently investigating the neural circuits underlying social behaviors. I was involved in characterizing small-molecule metabolites that regulate social behaviors in the model system C. elegans. I studied the evolution of behavior of closely related species of Caenorhabditis species. I am testing the hypothesis whether polymodality in nematodes arose due to a constraint to utilize the small number of neurons efficiently.

  • Senior Research Fellow

    May 2010 - Aug 2012

  • HHMI Postdoctoral Researcher

    Apr 2004 - Apr 2010

  • Postdoctoral Researcher

    Jan 2004 - Mar 2004
• 

  Worcester Polytechnic Institute

  Aug 2012 - now

  My research focuses on how the brain processes signals to enact stereotyped social behaviors using the invertebrate model system, Caenorhabditis elegans.

  • Director, M.S. Program in Neuroscience

    Dec 2019 - now

  • Associate Professor

    Jul 2017 - now

  • Associate Professor

    Mar 2018 - now

  • Assistant Professor

    Aug 2012 - now
• 

  Harvard University

  Apr 2014 - now

  Visiting Scholar

  I am currently collaborating with Prof. Aravinthan Samuel to develop novel imaging tools to visualize neurons upon stimulation of different odorants.