We are delighted to announce that Dr Mehran Ahmadlou, a Senior Research Fellow at SWC, will join the University of Oxford’s Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics as a Group Leader this September. His new lab will study the neural mechanisms underlying adaptive behaviours, building on his research at SWC exploring how animals decide whether to pursue a current goal or switch to a new one.

"Our research will delve into how the brain decides between competing needs and behaviours—for example, balancing foraging with risk avoidance, managing trade-offs between hunger and thermoregulation, or choosing between seeking novelty and maximizing rewards.” Dr Ahmadlou explained. "We aim to uncover the neural circuits that enable flexible and adaptive behaviour in response to environmental changes and internal states."

The lab will also explore the implications of these neural mechanisms for neuropsychiatric disorders. "There is a strong link between maladaptive behaviour and many neuropsychiatric disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety disorders," Dr Ahmadlou noted. "By understanding these circuits, we hope to contribute to better treatments and interventions."

Dr Ahmadlou expressed his gratitude for the support he received at the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre. "I am deeply thankful for the mentorship of Sonja Hofer and the entire institute. Their support has been instrumental in my journey," he said. "I look forward to continuing collaborations with SWC and leveraging the cutting-edge techniques and experiences I've gained here."

SWC Group Leader Professor Sonja Hofer shared her thoughts on Mehran’s new role. “While I am very sad to see Mehran leave SWC, it has been a privilege to have him as such a fantastic force in my lab. He is more than ready to lead his own research group, and I have no doubt that he will continue to produce outstanding science at the highest level. Oxford is very fortunate to have him!"

The Ahmadlou Lab will be recruiting for several positions, including postdocs and research assistants, and will also support PhD students. Further details will be released over the coming months.

For more information about Dr Ahmadlou and his research, please visit his website. 

About Dr Mehran Ahmadlou

Before joining Oxford, Dr Ahmadlou was a Senior Research Fellow at UCL's Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, studying how the brain drives exploration. Previously, his PhD research at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, which focused on visual processing and plasticity, was recognised with the Dutch Neuroscience Thesis Prize.