The overarching goal of Dr. Prober’s work is to understand the genetic and neuronal mechanisms that regulate sleep. Here, he will utilize zebrafish models to elucidate the mechanisms that underlie homeostatic, circadian, and light-dependent regulation of sleep. He also aims to validate human sleep disorder candidate genes that have been identified through genome-wide association studies. In his work, he will utilize a combination of genetic, optogenetic, and chemogenetic perturbations coupled with high-throughput behavioral assays and whole-brain neuronal activity monitoring with single cell resolution. His work will provide a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms that regulate sleep, thereby creating a foundation for the development of novel therapies for sleep disorders.