COBRE Co-Investigator and Chair, Internal Advisory Committee
Dr. Dunlap’s research has focused on understanding the molecular basis of circadian rhythms in the model system Neurospora, and more recently on translating insights gained from Neurospora into understanding mammalian circadian clocks. Because entrainment of rhythms is so closely tied to photobiology, he has also been drawn into studying the molecular bases of photoreception in fungi. Most recently as one of the largest labs working on filamentous fungi he has led efforts to develop functional genetic and genomic tools to exploit these organisms. The circadian system is one of the overarching physiological control mechanisms in humans and, in fact, in nearly all eukaryotes. Dysfunction in the circadian system lies at the basis of some sleep and psychiatric disorders as well as a variety of metabolic disorders.
Dr. Dunlap benefitted enormously from mentoring as a junior scientist and has tried to pass this forward. Over the years he has trained a number of undergraduates, 15 graduate students and 39 postdoctoral fellows, ~60% of whom presently hold academic positions ranging from assistant professor to chair and institute director. At Dartmouth he teaches graduate students and has served as the head of the Genetics (now Molecular and Systems Biology) Graduate Program since its beginning in 2000. Outside of his lab, in his capacity as chairman and also outside of Dartmouth as a more senior scientist in his field, he has helped to mentor more than a dozen scientists junior to himself including several now in junior faculty positions, two from his department who have gone off to become department chairs, and one who was elected to the National Academy.