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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA

@alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social
392 followers 526 following 46 posts

Our lab pursues questions on the molecular and neural mechanisms of steroid-modulated social behavior using genetics and neurobiological tools. On this account we share and discuss work from our lab and others. alwardlab.com

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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
and developing new transgenic burtoni that can help answer these questions to develop an independent research direction and build their career. If interested, send your CV and a short description of your interests to balward@ucla.edu. Please share with anyone who may be a good fit. 3/3
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Current projects focus on social hierarchies, steroid and peptide signaling, hypothalamic circuits, and brain plasticity. I’m looking for a postdoc who is interested in addressing fundamental questions in neuroendocrinology 2/3
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
I’m looking to hire a postdoc to join our lab at UCLA! We study the genes, hormones, and cells that regulate social behavior in the African cichlid Astatotilapia burtoni (in a separate post we’re looking for a PhD student) @sbn-bsky.bsky.social 1/3
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
with your CV and a brief description of your research interests. Please share with prospective students who may be interested! 3/3
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
We combine behavioral neuroendocrinology, CRISPR, neurobiology, and single-cell and spatial transcriptomics. Prospective students who are curious how steroid hormones and neuropeptides integrate social cues to regulate social and reproductive state should email (balward@ucla.edu) 2/3
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
We’re recruiting a PhD student to join our lab at UCLA! (we’re also recruiting a postdoc; details posted separately). Our lab studies the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying social behavior using the African cichlid Astatotilapia burtoni as a model. @sbn-bsky.bsky.social 1/3
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
www.instagram.com/reel/Dajj0qC... the Alward lab is ready for #SBN2026! @sbn-bsky.bsky.social
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Good morning, #SBN2026! The cichlid Astatotilapia burtoni (researchers) are taking over Niagara Falls! Three trainees from the Alward lab are presenting at today’s poster session. See flier below. Come by P9 (Lauren), P26 (Maddy), and P41 (Lexi) to see what we’ve been up to! @sbn-bsky.bsky.social
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
We just published a review in Current Opinion in Neurobiology on the utility of using cichlids for understanding social dysfunction: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti.... @sbn-bsky.bsky.social. Take a look!
sciencedirect.com
Cichlid fish as a model for understanding social dysfunction
Social dysfunction is a prominent feature of many neuropsychiatric conditions, yet its biological basis remains incompletely understood. Progress has …
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SBN on Bluesky @sbn-bsky.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
We still have more amazing researchers in our society to celebrate! 🥳 Let's congratulate our Frank A. Beach Early Career Award winners! Hear more about their research on July 11 at #SBN2026 Dr Alward: 11:00 - 11:45 AM 🐠 🧠 Dr. Casto: 11:45 AM - 12:30 PM 🧑 🧠
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
By integrating scRNA-seq, spatial transcriptomics, and CRISPR, we identify modular steroid signaling programs and uncover a role for VMH somatostatin in regulating dominance. Beau will present on this and other work from the lab during his Beach Award talk at #SBN2026. Hope you can make it! 2/2
sst1.in
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Excited to share our new preprint! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6.... @sbn-bsky.bsky.social. We generated a spatially resolved single-cell atlas of the hypothalamus in the cichlid A. burtoni, revealing how social status, sex, and reproductive state shape cell-type-specific gene expression. 1/2
biorxiv.org
Cell-type-specific architecture of the hypothalamus in a socially plastic vertebrate
The hypothalamus orchestrates social behaviors by integrating physiological state with environmental information, but the cellular substrates of this plasticity remain unresolved. We combined single-c...
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Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.net · 27/06/2026
Our analysis found that the White House's proposed OMB regulations would threaten nearly 5,000 clinical trials. This includes more than 1,000 cancer treatment studies. Join the fight by taking action against the OMB grant funding proposal at the link in our bio! #standupforscience #vought #omb
Graphic highlighting a Scientific American article about a Stand Up for Science analysis finding that proposed White House regulations could threaten nearly 5,000 clinical trials, including more than 1,000 cancer treatment studies. The image shows Russell Vought and urges viewers to “Stop Vought. Save Science.” Calls to action encourage contacting Congress, submitting a public comment, and supporting the fight for science.
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Rep. Jamie Raskin @raskin.house.gov · 25/06/2026
Public health research at world-class institutions like the NIH is an important public good. Rep. Suzan DelBene, Rep. Lori Trahan and I are leading 122 of our colleagues to oppose the Trump Administration’s efforts to give partisan political appointees final say over health research grants.
thebanner.com
Raskin moves to stop ‘disastrous’ threat against medical research
Rep. Jamie Raskin seeks to stop the Trump administration from putting political appointees in charge of federal health grants.
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Hello! The Alward lab will be well represented at #SBN2026 @sbn-bsky.bsky.social in Niagara Falls! Beau Alward is giving a Beach Award talk and three trainees are presenting posters. Most posts to come. Also, we’re looking to take a PhD student next cycle! If attending the meeting reach out!
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
We have in a cichlid. Astatotilapia burtoni.
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
@sbn-bsky.bsky.social
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
do research on hormones and the brain/ behavior? Wanna present your work at a conference of other researchers like you in Niagara Falls and get an award for it? Then apply for an SBN Elsevier Award! sbn.org/awards/elsev... Take a look to see if this award is right for you! Deadline 4/24. Pls share!
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Check out Lauren Saenz’s poster on somatostatin and dominance at #sfn #sfn2025 today (Wednesday, 11/19). 8am-12pm, Poster Y4, “Investigating the role of somatostatin in regulating social dominance in a cichlid”. Spoiler alert: she used crispr to make a new mutant! @sbn-bsky.bsky.social @sfn.org
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
Hi Molly! Yes we are, if interested they can email me.
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
We are looking for a new postdoc to join our team! Details below. Please reach out if interested. share widely—Thanks!
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Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 19/08/2025
New LA Times story about Jewish Faculty at UCLA standing up www.latimes.com/california/s... 1/3
latimes.com
UCLA's Jewish community unites against Trump's $1-billion demand: 'misguided and punitive'
UCLA's Jewish faculty united around a letter conveying anger over a potential $1-billion settlement between the university and the Trump administration over alleged campus antisemitism.
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 15/08/2025
Here’s @kareemabduljabaar.bsky.social talking about the importance of UCLA research to human health. Groundbreaking research at UCLA leads to new discoveries and saves lives. Go Bruins! #researchpowersprogress www.threads.com/@ucla/post/D...
threads.com
UCLA (@ucla) on Threads
Bruin legend @kareemabduljabbar_33 speaks from the heart about UCLA’s impact on his life, career, and health. His story illustrates how UCLA ResearchPowersProgress. Share your UCLA research impact st...
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
We're losing scientific progress in real-time. Call your house rep and senators, and spread the word that real people are losing their jobs and having their futures upended because of these suspended funds. We can't afford not to fund science-there is too much at stake. 9/9
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
postdoc learning the new cutting-edge technology to apply it to today's and the future diseases; a junior Pl who has the next big idea in biomedicine: they are all wondering if they will have a job in the next couple of months. 8/9
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
please speak out against penalizing researchers who just want to do their job for the good of humanity, because that is precisely what's happening. The country's future medical doctors who gain research experience in a UCLA lab as an undergraduate; the graduate student or 7/9
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
Many of my colleagues are not as lucky as I am. They perform cutting-edge world-changing research and were supported entirely by NIH and/or NSF funds that are now suspended. No matter what you think of the politics of this or your views on punishing universities 6/9
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
During these challenging times, that is one thing nobody will take away from us: our curiosity and spirit to work together in pursuit of knowledge to improve the human condition will NEVER cease. 5/9
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
I have funds to pay team members in the short term, but I don't know how long I can support them without NIH funds. What I do know is that we won't stop doing our research, and you can't stop our curiosity for discovery. 4/9
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
undergrads, grad students, techs, and postdocs researching the molecular regulation of gene expression in the brain and social behavior. What has been a passion of mine for years, NIH funds allowed me to share with future doctors and early career scientists. 3/9
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
have to wonder if their research can continue. I am sharing my thoughts now in hopes that you can spread the word on the human side of these suspensions. Obtaining an NIH grant is a difficult but rewarding achievement. With my funds, I was able to support 2/9
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
*Please read and share!* My NIH funds at UCLA were suspended last week. It's hard to find the words to describe the impact of these grant suspensions. I have felt speechless and heartbroken that people in my lab, my friends, colleagues, researchers, trainees, and undergrads 1/9
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 08/08/2025
So a $1 billion ransom now? It’s to scare us into submitting; To lose hope. Still not gonna stop us: Even in the face of this my lab remains committed to doing meaningful, impactful science, now more than ever. We won’t stop. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/08/u...
nytimes.com
Trump Wants U.C.L.A. to Pay $1 Billion to Restore Its Research Funding
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
If hired, you will gain experience performing CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, behavioral analysis, and spatial transcriptiomics using our 10X Genomcis Xenium. Position is for 1-2 years. Official posting coming soon. Reach out or spread the word to others please. Thanks! 2/2
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
We’re looking to hire a research tech. Come join our team to sink your teeth into experiments on the hormonal and cellular basis of social behavior. Strong candidates should be proficient in immunohistochemostry/fluorescence, in situ hybridization/HCR/RNAscope, and microscopy. 1/2
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
Here’s the segment on NIH from tonight’s 60 minutes www.cbsnews.com/video/nih-cu...
cbsnews.com
Federal cuts to National Institutes of Health could threaten medical progress
Former National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins, who abruptly left his NIH research lab in February, fears aggressive downsizing could impact Americans’ health.
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 27/04/2025
Please tell everyone you know that 60 minutes is covering the NIH tonight youtu.be/noyS-L5gK7k?...
youtu.be
NIH | Sunday on 60 Minutes
YouTube video by 60 Minutes
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
Thank you to the Allard lab on summarizing the importance of NIH and why this administration’s recent cuts hurt not only biomedical reseadch, but also jobs and the potential for developing cures for human diseases.
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
This is terrible, Troy. I’m so sorry. Your work is important for advancing knowledge in general and for neuroendocrinology!
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Congrats, and it’s a relief some are still getting positive news on their NIH funding.
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
Check out the papers to learn more! In our ongoing work we continue to do experiments to figure out the hormonal regulation of social behavior in both sexes. We’re looking to recruit grad students and a postdoc for these projects, so email if interested! @sbn-bsky.bsky.social 5/5
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... In this paper Lillian tested whether androgen receptor alpha, which is required for quivers in males, was required for quivers during female aggression. ARa wasn’t required for female quivers, or any form of aggression by females 4/5
sciencedirect.com
Sexually dimorphic control of aggression by androgen signaling in a cichlid
Innate social behaviors like aggression are modulated by sex steroid hormones such as androgens and estrogens. However, we know little about how the s…
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
Finally, male and female brains looked very different after this assay: males showed an elevation of neural activity in the VMH, an aggression node, while females showed inhibition of neural activity in social brain regions. 3/5
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
www.nature.com/articles/s41... We used a mirror assay to study aggression and the brain. Lillian found males and females do both sex-typical and the same behaviors. Females performed quivers during this assay, which is surprising because males do this during courtship but not aggression! 2/5
nature
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
Lillian Jackson from our lab published two papers recently on sex differences in the molecular and neural basis of aggression in cichlids. Below are links to both papers with short summaries. 1/5
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 03/01/2025
Add this to your #SICB2025 itinerary!
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
I am specifically interested adding 1-2 new graduate students to the team. Visit alwardlab.com for more details about some of our current research questions. reach out with questions if interested and/or to learn more about UCLA/LA! Please retweet! 3/3
alwardlab.com
Neuroendocrinology and Behavior Lab at UCLA
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
Faculty in the IBP dept at UCLA such as Stephanie Correa, Ed van Veen, Barney Schlinger, Art Arnold, myself, and others across UCLA study a diverse array of topics in neuroendocrinology, providing students an opportunity to pursue graduate training within a rich neuroendocrinology hub. 2/3
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
Interested in pursuing a PhD with a focus on neuroendocrinology? Apply to the UCLA Graduate Program in Bioscience! bioscience.ucla.edu! @sbn-bsky.bsky.social 1/3 (this originally posted this thread on twitter but we are no longer active there)
bioscience.ucla.edu
UCLA Graduate Programs in Bioscience (GPB)
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Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
First post from the lab! Click on the link below for our paper on androgen receptor expression in GnRH neurons published in an issue of Journal of Neuroendocrinology, where we got the cover! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/13652826...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
<em>Journal of Neuroendocrinology</em> | BSN Journal | Wiley Online Library
Click on the title to browse this issue
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