People
Boopathy Sivaraman
I am Boopathy Sivaraman, a.k.a "Boo". I hail from California and my roots belong to India. My research interests lie in understanding the neural mechanisms that drive stress and aggression, and the relationship(s) between the two. More specifically my aim is to understand the role of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and its receptors in modulating aggressive behavior. In order to understand the biological nature of aggression, I work on a species of highly aggressive fish know as the convict cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata), which share evolutionarily conserved neurochemical pathways with other vertebrates. Our fish model provides a model species that exhibits characteristic aggressive behavior that we can accurately measure and manipulate pharmacologically. The cichlids also allow us to ascertain changes in neuroendocrine function by measuring the level of hormones and neurotransmitters following an aggressive interaction. My future academic goal is to utilize my understanding of biology and apply it to a career as a researching pharmacist. Contact: Email Boopathy
Publications
- Wong S, Sivaraman B, Stephenson H, Miller K & Earley RL. Aggression alone does not trigger changes in endocrine status in the convict cichlid fish (Amatitlania nigrofasciata). Submitted to Hormones & Behavior