Dr Rodrigo De Marco
School of Biological and Environmental Sciences
Faculty of Science
Email: R.J.DeMarco@ljmu.ac.uk
Telephone: 0151 904 1893
I received a PhD in Biology from the University of Buenos Aires and later taught and conducted research at the Free University of Berlin, the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg and the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz. I joined Liverpool John Moores University in 2020.
Research
Currently my primary focus is on modelling how an animal's repertoire of actions early in life organize dynamically to produce meaningful behaviour. We study the larval zebrafish since they develop externally and are genetically amenable. They can be observed in a fully controlled environment and their size makes it easier to investigate algorithms and motor components using computer-vision-based methods. On top we can visualize and interfere with specific cell populations in the brain and the periphery whilst the animal is still alive. You can learn more about the lab here: https://www.rodrigodemarco.com/research/demarco-lab/
Courses
5216NATSCI Brain, Hormones and Behaviour
6208NATSCI Animal Learning and Cognition
7136NATSCI Neuroendocrinology
Languages
Spanish - Latin American
English
German
Degrees
University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, PhD
University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Lic
Academic appointments
Senior Lecturer in Neuroscience, Liverpool John Moores University, 2020 - present
Senior Scientist, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 2016 - 2019
Project Leader, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, 2010 - 2016
Research Fellow, Free University of Berlin, 2006 - 2008
Postgraduate training
Postdoctoral Fellow, Germany, Free University of Berlin, 2004 - 2006
Highlighted publications
Castillo-Ramírez LA, Ryu S, De Marco RJ. 2019. Active behaviour during early development shapes glucocorticoid reactivity Scientific Reports, 9 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Gill M, Ancau M, Schlesiger MI, Neitz A, Allen K, De Marco RJ, Monyer H. 2017. Impaired path integration in mice with disrupted grid cell firing Nature Neuroscience, 21 :81-91 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryu S, De Marco RJ. 2017. Performance on innate behaviour during early development as a function of stress level Scientific Reports, 7 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
De Marco RJ, Thiemann T, Groneberg AH, Herget U, Ryu S. 2016. Optogenetically enhanced pituitary corticotroph cell activity post-stress onset causes rapid organizing effects on behaviour Nature Communications, 7 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Groneberg AH, Herget U, Ryu S, De Marco RJ. 2015. Positive taxis and sustained responsiveness to water motions in larval zebrafish Frontiers in Neural Circuits, 9 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
De Marco RJ, Groneberg AH, Yeh C-M, Treviño M, Ryu S. 2014. The behavior of larval zebrafish reveals stressor-mediated anorexia during early vertebrate development Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 8 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Trevino M, Oviedo T, Jendritza P, Li S-B, Koehr G, De Marco RJ. 2013. Controlled variations in stimulus similarity during learning determine visual discrimination capacity in freely moving mice Scientific Reports, 3 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
De Marco RJ. 2006. How bees tune their dancing according to their colony’s nectar influx: re-examining the role of the food-receivers’ ’eagerness’ Journal of Experimental Biology, DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Journal article
Castillo-Ramírez LA, Ryu S, De Marco RJ. 2024. Cortisol dynamics and GR-dependent feedback regulation in zebrafish larvae exposed to repeated stress. Biol Open, 13 DOI Author Url
Herget U, Ryu S, De Marco RJ. 2023. Altered glucocorticoid reactivity and behavioral phenotype in rx3-/- larval zebrafish Frontiers in Endocrinology, 14 :1187327 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Castillo-Ramírez LA, Ryu S, De Marco RJ. 2019. Active behaviour during early development shapes glucocorticoid reactivity Scientific Reports, 9 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Gill M, Ancau M, Schlesiger MI, Neitz A, Allen K, De Marco RJ, Monyer H. 2017. Impaired path integration in mice with disrupted grid cell firing Nature Neuroscience, 21 :81-91 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ryu S, De Marco RJ. 2017. Performance on innate behaviour during early development as a function of stress level Scientific Reports, 7 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
De Marco RJ, Thiemann T, Groneberg AH, Herget U, Ryu S. 2016. Optogenetically enhanced pituitary corticotroph cell activity post-stress onset causes rapid organizing effects on behaviour Nature Communications, 7 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
vom Berg-Maurer CM, Trivedi CA, Bollmann JH, De Marco RJ, Ryu S. 2016. The Severity of Acute Stress Is Represented by Increased Synchronous Activity and Recruitment of Hypothalamic CRH Neurons Journal of Neuroscience, DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Gutierrez-Triana JA, Herget U, Castillo-Ramirez LA, Lutz M, Yeh C-M, De Marco RJ, Ryu S. 2015. Manipulation of Interrenal Cell Function in Developing Zebrafish Using Genetically Targeted Ablation and an Optogenetic Tool Endocrinology, DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Groneberg AH, Herget U, Ryu S, De Marco RJ. 2015. Positive taxis and sustained responsiveness to water motions in larval zebrafish Frontiers in Neural Circuits, 9 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
De Marco RJ, Groneberg AH, Yeh C-M, Treviño M, Ryu S. 2014. The behavior of larval zebrafish reveals stressor-mediated anorexia during early vertebrate development Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 8 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
De Marco RJ, Groneberg AH, Yeh C-M, Castillo-Ramirez LA, Ryu S. 2013. Optogenetic elevation of endogenous glucocorticoid level in larval zebrafish Frontiers in Neural Circuits, 7 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Trevino M, Oviedo T, Jendritza P, Li S-B, Koehr G, De Marco RJ. 2013. Controlled variations in stimulus similarity during learning determine visual discrimination capacity in freely moving mice Scientific Reports, 3 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Treviño M, Aguilar-Garnica E, Jendritza P, Li S-B, Oviedo T, Köhr G, De Marco RJ. 2011. Discrimination learning with variable stimulus ’salience’ International Archives of Medicine, 4 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Gil M, De Marco RJ. 2010. Decoding information in the honeybee dance: revisiting the tactile hypothesis Animal Behaviour, DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Gil M, De Marco RJ. 2009. Honeybees learn the sign and magnitude of reward variations Journal of Experimental Biology, DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Gil M, Menzel R, De Marco RJ. 2009. Side-specific reward memories in honeybees Learning & Memory, DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Núñez JA, De Marco RJ. 2009. Functional Fractals in Biology Biological Theory, DOI Publisher Url
Seefeldt S, De Marco RJ. 2008. The response of the honeybee dance to uncertain rewards Journal of Experimental Biology, DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Gil M, Menzel R, De Marco RJ. 2008. Does an Insect’s Unconditioned Response to Sucrose Reveal Expectations of Reward? PLoS One, 3 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
De Marco RJ, Gurevitz JM, Menzel R. 2008. Variability in the encoding of spatial information by dancing bees Journal of Experimental Biology, DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Gil M, De Marco RJ, Menzel R. 2007. Learning reward expectations in honeybees Learning & Memory, DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Núñez JA, De Marco RJ. 2007. Technology and the Foundations of Biology Biological Theory, DOI Publisher Url
Menzel R, De Marco RJ, Greggers U. 2006. Spatial memory, navigation and dance behaviour in Apis mellifera Journal of Comparative Physiology A, DOI Author Url Publisher Url
De Marco RJ. 2006. How bees tune their dancing according to their colony’s nectar influx: re-examining the role of the food-receivers’ ’eagerness’ Journal of Experimental Biology, DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Gil M, De Marco RJ. 2005. Apis mellifera bees acquire long-term olfactory memories within the colony Biology Letters, DOI Author Url Publisher Url
De Marco RJ, Menzel R. 2005. Encoding spatial information in the waggle dance Journal of Experimental Biology, DOI Author Url Publisher Url
De Marco RJ, Gil M, Farina WM. 2005. Does an increase in reward affect the precision of the encoding of directional information in the honeybee waggle dance? Journal of Comparative Physiology A, DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Gil M, De Marco RJ. 2005. Olfactory learning by means of trophallaxis in Apis mellifera Journal of Experimental Biology, DOI Author Url Publisher Url
De Marco RJ, Farina WM. 2003. Trophallaxis in forager honeybees (Apis mellifera): resource uncertainty enhances begging contacts? Journal of Comparative Physiology A, DOI Author Url Publisher Url
De Marco RJ, Farina WM. 2001. Changes in food source profitability affect the trophallactic and dance behavior of forager honeybees ( Apis mellifera L.) Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, DOI Author Url Publisher Url
De Marco RJ, Gürtler RE, Salomón OD, Chuit R. 1999. Small-Scale Field Trial of a Sensing Device for Detecting Peridomestic Populations ofTriatoma infestans(Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in Northwestern Argentina Journal of Medical Entomology, DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Books (authored)
Ryu S, De Marco RJ. 2017. Optogenetic Interpellation of Behavior Employing Unrestrained Zebrafish Larvae 133 Humana Press, New York, NY via Springer Nature 9781493974153 DOI Publisher Url
De Marco RJ, Menzel R. Learning and Memory in Communication and Navigation in Insects Elsevier 9780123705099 DOI Publisher Url