What the Buzz is All About
My research interests are in neuroethology—the intersection of neuroscience, behavior, and social conditions. I am interested in how changes in environment, neural systems, and behavior influence each other neural function, and how understanding those mechanisms can inform the systems we build around people to improve lives.
I began in the Wang Lab at the University of Washington in 2024 through the NIH ENDURE program, investigating the neurobiological and behavioral impacts of social isolation and reintegration using bumblebees as a model social organism. That work continues to shape my interest in social behavior, connection, and the biological consequences of disrupted social environments.
Now, I work in the de la Iglesia Lab, studying how the Sunshine Protection Act could affect school start times, morning light exposure, sleep, and circadian alignment for K–12 students. The lab’s research demonstrates the relationship between adolescent circadian biology and school schedules, including evidence that later school start times increase sleep and can improve student outcomes.
Across these projects, I bring experience in behavioral neuroscience, experimental research, quantitative analysis, and translating scientific evidence into questions of policy and social justice.
Social Isolation
Investigated the neurobiological and behavioral impacts of social isolation in adult bumblebees, expanding on previous work focused on juvenile stages. Adult bees were housed either in isolation or in small groups, after which individuals were assessed for changes in behavior, gene expression, and survival. This work examined how social isolation affects development and function in a highly social species, offering insights into the consequences of disrupted social environments and their relevance to institutional settings, including incarceration, juvenile detention, immigration detention, and restrictive environments affecting children.
Reintegration
Examined the behavioral and social responses of adult bumblebees following a period of social isolation. Individuals are returned to a social environment and assessed for changes in behavior and locomotion. This work focuses on the acute rehabilitation period following an individual’s reintegration into a social group, examining how isolation can disrupt social interactions and how those disruptions shape an individual's return to communal life. These findings contribute to a broader understanding of the behavioral and neurobiological consequences of isolation and the challenges of restoring social connection.
Photo courtesy of the Washington State Department of Corrections
"In neuroethology, we seek to understand how the brain has evolved to solve the problems animals face in their natural environments."
— Principles of Neuroethology (Hoy, 2016)
Research & Scientific Skills
Behavioral Coding · Quantitative Analysis · Neuroethology · Social Isolation & Reintegration · Social Behavior · Circadian Biology · Sleep & Health · Behavioral Neuroscience · Science Communication · Science & Policy · SLEAP · BORIS · PCR
@Beezinthelab
You can catch a closer look at experiments, behind-the-scenes lab moments, upcoming talks, and ongoing updates by following @BeezInTheLab on Instagram.
