Project Grant 2241759

This National Science Foundation Project Grant of $1,000,000 will fund research at Cornell University from March 2023 through February 2027 under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074). The award will support projects to disentangle the neural mechanisms underlying social behaviors and alternative mating tactics in vertebrates. Researchers will conduct studies in prairie voles, a socially monogamous species where males vary in sexual fidelity despite strong pair bonds. The work will leverage the intersection between prosociality and monogamy to broaden understanding of social brain function by manipulating neuronal activity related to social behavior to observe consequences for reproductive decision-making. Additionally, the grant will support training of undergraduate students in neuroscience techniques and community engagement activities with local K-12 students, advancing the Biological Sciences program's goals of strengthening the biological sciences enterprise and increasing scientific knowledge.