Laura R Cortes
@prefrontalcortes.bsky.social
Neuroscientist and hormone lover.
Post doc @ UCLA in the Correa lab.
Studying the effects of pregnancy on metabolism and the brain🤰🏻🌡️🧠
K00 D-SPAN | BWF PDEP fellow | NIDDK LIFT UP
Post doc @ UCLA in the Correa lab.
Studying the effects of pregnancy on metabolism and the brain🤰🏻🌡️🧠
K00 D-SPAN | BWF PDEP fellow | NIDDK LIFT UP
Reposted by Laura R Cortes
🚨Good news, everyone!
1) I'm thrilled to be joining the behavior powerhouse that is Indiana University!! So stoked, starting Jan 2026.
2) I'm recruiting grad students! Are you (or your trainee) interested in sensory ecology? behavior? evolution? fieldwork? spiders? Drop me a line Jstafstr(at)iu.edu
1) I'm thrilled to be joining the behavior powerhouse that is Indiana University!! So stoked, starting Jan 2026.
2) I'm recruiting grad students! Are you (or your trainee) interested in sensory ecology? behavior? evolution? fieldwork? spiders? Drop me a line Jstafstr(at)iu.edu
November 22, 2025 at 4:53 PM
🚨Good news, everyone!
1) I'm thrilled to be joining the behavior powerhouse that is Indiana University!! So stoked, starting Jan 2026.
2) I'm recruiting grad students! Are you (or your trainee) interested in sensory ecology? behavior? evolution? fieldwork? spiders? Drop me a line Jstafstr(at)iu.edu
1) I'm thrilled to be joining the behavior powerhouse that is Indiana University!! So stoked, starting Jan 2026.
2) I'm recruiting grad students! Are you (or your trainee) interested in sensory ecology? behavior? evolution? fieldwork? spiders? Drop me a line Jstafstr(at)iu.edu
So, so deserved! Couldn’t have asked for a better PhD mentor than Nancy. Can’t wait to celebrate at SBN 2026. 🥳
SBN is extremely pleased to announce that Dr. Nancy Forger, Professor at the Neuroscience Institute at Georgia State University, is the recipient of the Larry Young Mentorship Award. 🥳
November 19, 2025 at 12:50 AM
So, so deserved! Couldn’t have asked for a better PhD mentor than Nancy. Can’t wait to celebrate at SBN 2026. 🥳
Reposted by Laura R Cortes
Visit our posters on Sat, Sun & Weds @sfn.org ! @luisadema.bsky.social & @lailaouldibbat.bsky.social will present at #TPDA session too. I'll be around for all posters - let's chat about single-cell studies across the cycle, peripartum, OVX.. & the cool dynamics of the X chrom! See you there! #SfN25
November 15, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Visit our posters on Sat, Sun & Weds @sfn.org ! @luisadema.bsky.social & @lailaouldibbat.bsky.social will present at #TPDA session too. I'll be around for all posters - let's chat about single-cell studies across the cycle, peripartum, OVX.. & the cool dynamics of the X chrom! See you there! #SfN25
Reposted by Laura R Cortes
✨ New preprint ✨ What if we could watch AND control thousands of individual neurons in behaving mice—with stable access over months? 🧠⚡ Our work introduces transgenic all-optical tools that make this possible - and a resulting surprising discovery! 🔭💡
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... 1/13 🧵
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... 1/13 🧵
Large-scale cellular-resolution read/write of activity enables discovery of cell types defined by complex circuit properties
The complexity of the mammalian brain’s vast population of interconnected neurons poses a formidable challenge to elucidate its underlying mechanisms of coordination and computation. A key step forwar...
www.biorxiv.org
November 13, 2025 at 12:24 AM
✨ New preprint ✨ What if we could watch AND control thousands of individual neurons in behaving mice—with stable access over months? 🧠⚡ Our work introduces transgenic all-optical tools that make this possible - and a resulting surprising discovery! 🔭💡
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... 1/13 🧵
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... 1/13 🧵
Reposted by Laura R Cortes
My first official post to say see you at #SfN2025! I'm presenting some new ephys work with @healeylab.bsky.social looking at auditory responses to chick calls in zebra finch parents! 🐦🧠🔊🐣 Tuesday @ 2pm (PSTR346, Vocal/Social Communication). ALSO ~ my lab is opening soon and we're HIRING!! (see ⬇️)
November 14, 2025 at 7:49 PM
My first official post to say see you at #SfN2025! I'm presenting some new ephys work with @healeylab.bsky.social looking at auditory responses to chick calls in zebra finch parents! 🐦🧠🔊🐣 Tuesday @ 2pm (PSTR346, Vocal/Social Communication). ALSO ~ my lab is opening soon and we're HIRING!! (see ⬇️)
Reposted by Laura R Cortes
Well, it's a little clearer now why billionaires are so invested in technology that produces better written emails.
November 12, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Well, it's a little clearer now why billionaires are so invested in technology that produces better written emails.
Reposted by Laura R Cortes
Stop by my poster tonight at #ISDP2025 - P1.14
I'll be presenting the last bit of data from my F32 on how maternal LG mitigates DNA methylation changes in prenatal bisphenol-exposed pups
This will also be the last conference I present as a postdoc (most likely). I have mixed feelings about it..
I'll be presenting the last bit of data from my F32 on how maternal LG mitigates DNA methylation changes in prenatal bisphenol-exposed pups
This will also be the last conference I present as a postdoc (most likely). I have mixed feelings about it..
November 12, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Stop by my poster tonight at #ISDP2025 - P1.14
I'll be presenting the last bit of data from my F32 on how maternal LG mitigates DNA methylation changes in prenatal bisphenol-exposed pups
This will also be the last conference I present as a postdoc (most likely). I have mixed feelings about it..
I'll be presenting the last bit of data from my F32 on how maternal LG mitigates DNA methylation changes in prenatal bisphenol-exposed pups
This will also be the last conference I present as a postdoc (most likely). I have mixed feelings about it..
Reposted by Laura R Cortes
Who is going to the @sbn-bsky.bsky.social social at SfN?
We are considering sending down a delegation.
We are considering sending down a delegation.
November 12, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Who is going to the @sbn-bsky.bsky.social social at SfN?
We are considering sending down a delegation.
We are considering sending down a delegation.
Reposted by Laura R Cortes
What cell states are possible when they are missing key factors - Nanog, Pou5f3 (Oct4), & Sox19b (Sox2) - that are required for the first embryonic reprogramming steps? Follow along with our latest publication, finally out at doi.org/10.1016/j.ce... #devbio #reprogramming #zebrafish #embryo (1/6)
November 3, 2025 at 6:09 PM
What cell states are possible when they are missing key factors - Nanog, Pou5f3 (Oct4), & Sox19b (Sox2) - that are required for the first embryonic reprogramming steps? Follow along with our latest publication, finally out at doi.org/10.1016/j.ce... #devbio #reprogramming #zebrafish #embryo (1/6)
Reposted by Laura R Cortes
🚨Applications are now open for 2026 @beckmanillinois.bsky.social Postdoctoral Fellowships! We provide 3 years of support ($63k/year) for candidates conducting interdisciplinary research with two or more Beckman faculty members. Please apply and RT! beckman.illinois.edu/opportunitie...
Postdoctoral Fellows Program
The Beckman Institute at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers three postdoctoral fellow programs to support outstanding scientists: Beckman Institute Postdoctoral Fellows Program, Car...
beckman.illinois.edu
November 1, 2025 at 3:46 PM
🚨Applications are now open for 2026 @beckmanillinois.bsky.social Postdoctoral Fellowships! We provide 3 years of support ($63k/year) for candidates conducting interdisciplinary research with two or more Beckman faculty members. Please apply and RT! beckman.illinois.edu/opportunitie...
Reposted by Laura R Cortes
New paper on precise tool use learning in carrion crows @currentbiology.bsky.social. We show that—like New Caledonian crows—expert carrion crows pay close attention to the working end of their tool, suggesting tool integration into their peripersonal space. 🧵 & vids! 👇
www.cell.com/current-biol...
www.cell.com/current-biol...
September 11, 2025 at 10:15 AM
New paper on precise tool use learning in carrion crows @currentbiology.bsky.social. We show that—like New Caledonian crows—expert carrion crows pay close attention to the working end of their tool, suggesting tool integration into their peripersonal space. 🧵 & vids! 👇
www.cell.com/current-biol...
www.cell.com/current-biol...
Woo hoo @paulvander24.bsky.social !
My first first-author paper is published! At the intersection of metabolism and reproduction, we wrote this review with a broad audience in mind, and hope that there is something for everyone. Excited for the future of the field and honored to be a part of it!
academic.oup.com/endo/article...
academic.oup.com/endo/article...
Biological Mechanisms Balancing Torpor and Reproduction in Mammals
Abstract. Selective pressures have led to the development of innumerable unique strategies to maximize fitness—an organism's ability to survive and reprodu
academic.oup.com
October 23, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Woo hoo @paulvander24.bsky.social !
Reposted by Laura R Cortes
We are looking for a new postdoc to join our team! Details below. Please reach out if interested. share widely—Thanks!
October 16, 2025 at 11:00 PM
We are looking for a new postdoc to join our team! Details below. Please reach out if interested. share widely—Thanks!
Reposted by Laura R Cortes
California, this November 4th, the whole country is counting on you.
Prop 50 puts our elections back on a level playing field, preserves independent redistricting over the long term, and lets the people decide.
So return your ballot today. Vote yes on 50.
Prop 50 puts our elections back on a level playing field, preserves independent redistricting over the long term, and lets the people decide.
So return your ballot today. Vote yes on 50.
October 14, 2025 at 5:04 PM
California, this November 4th, the whole country is counting on you.
Prop 50 puts our elections back on a level playing field, preserves independent redistricting over the long term, and lets the people decide.
So return your ballot today. Vote yes on 50.
Prop 50 puts our elections back on a level playing field, preserves independent redistricting over the long term, and lets the people decide.
So return your ballot today. Vote yes on 50.
Reposted by Laura R Cortes
Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE
nyti.ms
October 8, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE
Reposted by Laura R Cortes
I’m excited to share our new preprint! We built a single-nucleus multiomic (snRNA-seq+snATAC-seq) atlas of leptin receptor-expressing hypothalamic neurons (LepRᴴʸᵖᵒ) and identified conserved cis-regulatory elements overlapping human obesity-linked variants and eQTLs🧠🧬
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Single-nucleus transcriptional and chromatin accessibility profiling of mouse hypothalamic LepRb neurons reveals cell type-specific cis-regulatory elements linked to human obesity
Leptin receptor-expressing hypothalamic neurons (LepRHypo) are key regulators of energy balance, yet a comprehensive, cell type-resolved, chromatin accessibility map of these neurons is lacking. We pr...
www.biorxiv.org
October 8, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I’m excited to share our new preprint! We built a single-nucleus multiomic (snRNA-seq+snATAC-seq) atlas of leptin receptor-expressing hypothalamic neurons (LepRᴴʸᵖᵒ) and identified conserved cis-regulatory elements overlapping human obesity-linked variants and eQTLs🧠🧬
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Laura R Cortes
Open rank tenure-track position in comp bio at the University of Montreal. Great environment, great position. @futurepislack.bsky.social
medecine.umontreal.ca/wp-content/u...
medecine.umontreal.ca/wp-content/u...
medecine.umontreal.ca
October 3, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Open rank tenure-track position in comp bio at the University of Montreal. Great environment, great position. @futurepislack.bsky.social
medecine.umontreal.ca/wp-content/u...
medecine.umontreal.ca/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Laura R Cortes
I'm excited to share our latest preprint on the impacts of maternal licking/grooming on estrogen receptor signaling and genome-wide changes in gene expression and DNA methylation in prenatal bisphenol-exposed pups!
Now back to applying for TT jobs in 🇨🇦...
#neuroskyence
🐀🧠🧬
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Now back to applying for TT jobs in 🇨🇦...
#neuroskyence
🐀🧠🧬
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Postnatal maternal care impacts hypothalamic Esrrg gene expression, co-expression profiles, and the DNA methylome in prenatal bisphenol-exposed rats
Environmental exposures co-occurring during early life have a profound influence on neurodevelopment. Our previous work in rats suggests that postnatal maternal care modulates the effects of prenatal ...
www.biorxiv.org
October 5, 2025 at 12:17 PM
I'm excited to share our latest preprint on the impacts of maternal licking/grooming on estrogen receptor signaling and genome-wide changes in gene expression and DNA methylation in prenatal bisphenol-exposed pups!
Now back to applying for TT jobs in 🇨🇦...
#neuroskyence
🐀🧠🧬
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Now back to applying for TT jobs in 🇨🇦...
#neuroskyence
🐀🧠🧬
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Reposted by Laura R Cortes
While Trump goes backward on clean energy development, California pushes forward in building an affordable, clean energy future.
I signed a new executive order to maintain our progress in adding clean electricity to our power grid while protecting thousands of good-paying jobs.
I signed a new executive order to maintain our progress in adding clean electricity to our power grid while protecting thousands of good-paying jobs.
August 29, 2025 at 10:43 PM
While Trump goes backward on clean energy development, California pushes forward in building an affordable, clean energy future.
I signed a new executive order to maintain our progress in adding clean electricity to our power grid while protecting thousands of good-paying jobs.
I signed a new executive order to maintain our progress in adding clean electricity to our power grid while protecting thousands of good-paying jobs.
Reposted by Laura R Cortes
California is supporting students and their families this back-to-school season with:
🥪 Universal free, nutritious school meals
📚 800+ schools with literacy coaches and universal K-2 screenings
👧 Universal TK with a year of free learning
🏫 Free before-, after-, and summer school
🥪 Universal free, nutritious school meals
📚 800+ schools with literacy coaches and universal K-2 screenings
👧 Universal TK with a year of free learning
🏫 Free before-, after-, and summer school
August 25, 2025 at 8:08 PM
California is supporting students and their families this back-to-school season with:
🥪 Universal free, nutritious school meals
📚 800+ schools with literacy coaches and universal K-2 screenings
👧 Universal TK with a year of free learning
🏫 Free before-, after-, and summer school
🥪 Universal free, nutritious school meals
📚 800+ schools with literacy coaches and universal K-2 screenings
👧 Universal TK with a year of free learning
🏫 Free before-, after-, and summer school
Reposted by Laura R Cortes
The Supreme Court just greenlit Donald Trump gutting nearly $800 MILLION for medical treatments and cures.
Congress approved this funding for a reason: it saves lives.
This is disgraceful, and families will suffer.
Congress approved this funding for a reason: it saves lives.
This is disgraceful, and families will suffer.
August 22, 2025 at 1:21 AM
The Supreme Court just greenlit Donald Trump gutting nearly $800 MILLION for medical treatments and cures.
Congress approved this funding for a reason: it saves lives.
This is disgraceful, and families will suffer.
Congress approved this funding for a reason: it saves lives.
This is disgraceful, and families will suffer.
Reposted by Laura R Cortes
🚨New Marlin Lab publication✨ app.jove.com/v/67112/prof...
In this #JoVE, we share a method for extracting meaningful, uninstructed behavioral readouts from constrained video recording environments (🧵1/2)
Led @brimcr.bsky.social & @AmirLawen, a @zuckermanbrain.bsky.social collab w/ @ItamarKahn.
In this #JoVE, we share a method for extracting meaningful, uninstructed behavioral readouts from constrained video recording environments (🧵1/2)
Led @brimcr.bsky.social & @AmirLawen, a @zuckermanbrain.bsky.social collab w/ @ItamarKahn.
Profiling Maternal Behavior Responses During Whole-Brain Imaging
Recent advancements in whole-brain imaging tools have enabled neuroscientists to investigate how coordinated brain activity processes external cues, ...
app.jove.com
August 18, 2025 at 9:44 PM
🚨New Marlin Lab publication✨ app.jove.com/v/67112/prof...
In this #JoVE, we share a method for extracting meaningful, uninstructed behavioral readouts from constrained video recording environments (🧵1/2)
Led @brimcr.bsky.social & @AmirLawen, a @zuckermanbrain.bsky.social collab w/ @ItamarKahn.
In this #JoVE, we share a method for extracting meaningful, uninstructed behavioral readouts from constrained video recording environments (🧵1/2)
Led @brimcr.bsky.social & @AmirLawen, a @zuckermanbrain.bsky.social collab w/ @ItamarKahn.
Reposted by Laura R Cortes
“One mile on a bike is a $.42 economic gain to society, one mile driving is a $.20 loss.”
“Which means that Copenhagen, a city of 1.2 million people, saves $357 million a year on health costs because something like 80% of its population commutes by bike.” #CityMakingMath
Some costs aren’t costs.
“Which means that Copenhagen, a city of 1.2 million people, saves $357 million a year on health costs because something like 80% of its population commutes by bike.” #CityMakingMath
Some costs aren’t costs.
One mile on a bike is a $.42 economic gain to society, one mile driving is a $.20 loss
Copenhagen, the bicycle-friendliest place on the planet, publishes a biannual Bicycle Account, and buried in its pages is a rather astonishing fact.
grist.org
August 17, 2025 at 12:16 AM
“One mile on a bike is a $.42 economic gain to society, one mile driving is a $.20 loss.”
“Which means that Copenhagen, a city of 1.2 million people, saves $357 million a year on health costs because something like 80% of its population commutes by bike.” #CityMakingMath
Some costs aren’t costs.
“Which means that Copenhagen, a city of 1.2 million people, saves $357 million a year on health costs because something like 80% of its population commutes by bike.” #CityMakingMath
Some costs aren’t costs.