WHAT WE STUDY

The Feuda Lab investigates how gene regulatory networks specify neuronal identity—and how those networks change during animal evolution. We ask which developmental mechanisms are deeply conserved, which represent evolutionary innovations, and how changes in regulatory networks generate new neuronal cell types.

RESEARCH THEMES

Building neuronal identity

We identify the transcription factors, enhancers, and regulatory interactions that control neuronal differentiation.

Evolution of cell types

We compare cellular programmes across species to reconstruct the origins and diversification of neuronal identities.

Sensory-system evolution

We study how photoreceptors, opsins, and other sensory systems originated and adapted to new ecological niches.

OUR APPROACH

We integrate single-cell and multiomic profiling, comparative genomics, phylogenomics, computational biology, and experimental perturbation across established and emerging model organisms. This combination allows us to move from evolutionary patterns to mechanistic and experimentally testable predictions.

RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT

The lab is based in the Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BiGeA) at the University of Bologna. Our international research programme connects evolutionary genomics, developmental biology, and single-cell science through collaborations across Europe and beyond.

JOIN THE LAB

We are building an interdisciplinary team in Bologna. We welcome enquiries from MSc students, prospective PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and potential collaborators.

Contact: roberto.feuda@unibo.it