About
Alexandra (Alex) Kingston is an assistant professor of biological sciences who uses integrative and comparative approaches to address fundamental questions on the neurobiology and sensory physiology that guides invertebrate behavior. To do so, her lab uses marine invertebrates to investigate the functional relationships among sensory systems and complex traits in an organismal context. Ongoing work in her lab focuses on how animals use their visual systems to interact with their environments & biological armor that dampens shock waves. Most of the research in the lab involves snapping shrimp, a group of decapod crustaceans with extraordinarily fast vision and specialized helmet-like armor that protects them from blast-induced neurotrauma. Other species of interest include chitons, conch, stomatopods, toe biters, and gobies. Alex teaches Invertebrate Zoology, Comparative Neurobiology, and a Graduate Seminar in Organismal Biology with a rotating theme. She is also an assistant editor for Integrative and Comparative Biology.
Education
- Ph.D., University of Maryland
- B.S., Arizona State University
Research interests and areas of expertise
- Sensory ecology
- Neurophysiology
- Vision
- Invertebrate zoology
- Crustaceans
- Decapods
- Neuroethology
- Integrative biology
- Comparative neurobiology
- Blast-induced neurotrauma
- Behavior
- Snapping shrimp