Bethany A. Stanhope, Ph.D.

Executive Director of Academic Operations, Research Scientist and Adjunct Professor at FAU in Jupiter

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Broadly, I study the underlying evolutionary, genetic and neural mechanisms that contribute to a diversity of behaviors and phenotypes, with a current focus on understanding sleep. To study this, I employ two genetic systems - the fruit fly and the cavefish - each system full of unique research benefits. 

 

I capitalize on the powerful genetics and high-throuput system of Drosophila to test single genes and their effects on sleep. Further, I employ the blind Mexican cavefish Astyanax mexicanus, since this unique fish naturally evolved sleep loss upon colonization of the cave. Together, these systems will help us to better understand mechanisms contributing to sleep disturbances and neurodiversity.  

 

Some of my earlier work focused on the evolution of pigmentation in cavefish and genome size diversity in tetraploid sucker fish.

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