2014-present, Assistant Professor, University of Miami Biology Department 2013-2014, Associate Research Scientist, Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University 2006-2012, Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University 2000-2006, Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Dartmouth College 1993-1997, B.S. in Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA

Our fundamental goal is to understand how neurons communicate in circuits to establish an appropriate level of activity that produces a robust, stable behavior. Our approach is to analyze in detail a model neural circuit that controls egg-laying behavior in the nematode C. elegans. We are taking advantage of the optical clarity and powerful genetics in this experimental system to literally watch the activity of every cell in the circuit in behaving animals using fluorescent Ca2+ reporters, and also to manipulate their activity using optogenetic tools. Using mutations and transgenes to discover and alter molecular signaling events between cells, we are determining how the complex pattern of activity in a circuit creates a coherent, regulated behavior. The neural circuit we study uses conserved, medically relevant neurotransmitters, including serotonin and acetylcholine, and we expect these studies will reveal general principles of neurotransmitter signaling and neural circuit function with applications to understanding the human nervous system and its dysfunction in disease.

Thapaliya ER, Zhang Y, Dhakal P, Brown AS, Wilson JN, Collins K, Raymo FM (2017) Bioimaging with Macromolecular Probes Incorporating Multiple BODIPY Fluorophores. Bioconjugate Chemistry, in press. Banerjee N, Bhattacharya R, Gorczyca M, Collins KM, Francis MM. (2017) Local neuropeptide signaling modulates serotonergic transmission to shape the temporal organization of C. elegans egg-laying behavior. PLoS Genetics, 13 (4) e1006697. Collins KM, Bode A, Fernandez RW, Tanis JE, Brewer J, Creamer M, Koelle MR. (2016) Activity of the C. elegans egg-laying behavior circuit is controlled by competing activation and feedback inhibition. eLife. 5: e21126. Li P, Collins KM, Koelle MR, and Shen, K. (2013) LIN-12/Notch signaling instructs postsynaptic target selection by regulating UNC-40/DCC and MADD-2 in Caenorhabditis elegans. eLife. 2: e003788. Collins KM and Koelle MR (2013) Postsynaptic ERG potassium channels limit muscle excitability to allow distinct egg-laying behavior states in Caenorhabditis elegans. J. Neurosci. 33(2): 761-775.