Srinagar, Jan 12 (KNS): Mubarak Hussain Syed, an assistant professor of Biology at The University of New Mexico, has received the prestigious CAREER award from the National Science Foundation that will allow him to pursue his passions of understanding brain development and function, mentoring students, and science outreach. 
According to KNS monitoring desk, His project, “Mechanisms regulating neural identity, connectivity and function- From stem cells to circuits," will receive $1.8 million over five years.

syed lab
Syed, a neuroscientist, is interested in the development and function of neurons, glia (other cell types in the human brain), and neural circuits. Syed’s lab studies developmental programs regulating neural diversity and function - from stem cells to neural circuits.

“Over the years, I have gained experience in developmental neuroscience, and now we are aiming to establish a link between developmental mechanisms and adult behaviors using Drosophila, or fruit flies, as a model system,” he said, adding, “I have been working with fruit flies for over a decade. They are incredible creatures and have led to many fundamental discoveries in many fields, including the development, genetics, and neuroscience.

"We are currently studying neural stem cell-specific programs that regulate the identity and function of neural types that populate adult Drosophila central complex - a highly conserved brain structure necessary for complex behaviors, including sensorimotor integration, locomotor action selection and sleep” 

Syed will use the NSF CAREER award to achieve his three passions: research, engaging diverse population of undergraduate students into neuroscience research, and science outreach.

“Thanks to the NSF, my lab members, mentors and the collaborators, this award will cover my research, engaging students into neuroscience research and science outreach.”, reads the website of the University New Mexico according to KNS correspondent.