George Prounis, Ph.D. student. Major advisor: Alex Ophir. Neuroethology, neurodevelopmental plasticity, sociobiology.   B.S. 2011, SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry. Email: prounis@okstate.edu

Specific Interests

My research addresses the socio-spatial behavioral functions of mammalian adult neurogenesis, the process by which neural stem cells become functional neurons in the olfactory bulbs and the hippocampus throughout adulthood. Specifically, I explore the function of adult neurogenesis in supporting social recognition, social attachment, and spatial memory. I integrate field and lab techniques to holistically explore the interface between neuroscience and behavioral ecology, using non-traditional animal models: the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) and the African giant pouched rat (Cricetomys gambiaunus).