Welcome to the Talross Lab

The capacity of the nervous system to generate adaptive behavior emerges from sophisticated molecular processes, many of which remain poorly understood. The Talross Lab investigates a growing class of RNA-mediated mechanisms that regulate neuronal function, with a focus on long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs).

Once considered transcriptional noise, lncRNAs are now recognized as versatile regulators of cellular physiology. Evidence increasingly suggests that some lncRNAs, including those expressed in the nervous system, also encode small peptides with potent biological activity, expanding the known landscape of the neuronal proteome. Our goal is to understand how these molecules contribute to neuronal function and behavioral plasticity.

We use the insect olfactory system as a tractable and well-characterized model to uncover core principles of neuronal function. By integrating functional genetics with transcriptomic, biochemical, electrophysiological, and behavioral approaches, we seek to identify lncRNA-micropeptide systems and determine how they tune neuronal responses across internal states and environmental contexts. This work allows us to examine how recently evolved genes become functional components of neuronal systems and shape species-specific behaviors.

In addition to advancing our understanding of RNA biology and sensory systems, we are deeply committed to training the next generation of scientists. Our lab works with trainees at all stages, cultivating a supportive environment in which members can develop independence, creativity, rigor, and confidence.

Lab Members