Dr. Laura Duvall (Columbia) investigates the neurobiological mechanisms underlying mosquito behavior, including the regulation of host-seeking after blood-feeding, circadian and seasonal biting rhythms, and mating behavior. She employs pharmacological and genetic approaches to uncover the neuropeptide pathways and anatomical circuits involved in these behavioral switches, shedding light on fundamental questions regarding mosquito biology. The laboratory also works to address the signaling mechanisms responsible for inhibiting re-mating and preventing interspecies mating, crucial for understanding reproductive strategies and interspecies competition among mosquitoes.