Connectomes and the brain: piecing together the neural networks of a fruit fly

Marta is a postdoc at Lucy Cavendish College and Senior Research Associate at the Department of Zoology.

Marta’s current role as project lead of the ‘Drosophila connectomics group project’ brings together curiosity driven research in a dry-lab setting (computer work only) in a large, international project. Her responsibilities include managing the group day to day in coordination with the PIs and following up on particular research questions.

Their overall goal is to produce connectomes, or wiring diagrams of the neurons and their connections, in the central nervous system of a fruit fly (over 100,000 neurons), the largest ever produced. It will allow them to start understanding the function of certain olfactory, learning, locomotor circuits, for example, and to generate hypotheses for experimental testing. The network patterns they uncover will likely also be common in vertebrate organisms, and thus will also facilitate research in non-fly organisms.

Following a PhD Marta knew she wanted to stay in academia and research so a postdoc was the natural setting for her. 

Pursuing research in academia means a postdoc is essential. A postdoc allows you to continue doing research, post-PhD, in an academic setting, developing skills and research interests. It is the stage after the PhD, where research interests and paths are usually defined, and where research independence (from a supervisor) can be cultivated.

Marta says:
“After my PhD, and somewhat dispirited by wet-lab research (i.e. doing experiments in the lab) I chose to join projects that provide researchers with a digested and integrated output of published information, allowing them to be more effective in their own research. One of these projects focused on the genetic and genomic data of the fruit fly (FlyBase); the other focused on neuroscience research (Virtual Fly Brain). These roles provided me with a more practical application of my skills, which is what I was looking for.

They also gave me the opportunity to experience working in large collaborative projects, with people from very different fields such as software and database developers. I really enjoyed these aspects of the work, but was keen to go back to a classical research role.”

Marta comments on her time at Lucy:

“I was a PhD student at Lucy and really enjoyed my time in College. It was then that I met some of my closest friends. Lucy provides a very diverse, open and supportive atmosphere, and is almost unique in that respect in Cambridge. When I became a postdoc I was keen to retain a connection to College (beyond my contributions to coaching the rowers). I was lucky to be able to do that as a Postdoc Associate and to continue to enjoy this unique atmosphere. One thing I certainly miss right now is being able to fully take part in College events, and to meet new, friendly and interesting people at Formals, for example.”