Olivia Blake, a senior majoring in Biology (Neurobiology track) from Cedar Falls, Iowa, and a member of Dan Eberl's research lab in the Department of Biology, attended the Invertebrate Sound and Vibration (ISV) conference, held jointly with the Biotremology Society, at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, on June 14-17, 2026. 

Olivia presented on her current research in the lab using the smetana gene (encoding a dynein arm assembly factor) as a tool to distinguish the role of dynein arms in two different subsets of mechanosensory neurons (for hearing and for wind/gravity detection) in the fly antenna. The title of her presentation was, "Contribution of dynein motors to active mechanosensation."

Olivia was the 2026 recipient of the Department of Biology's Undergraduate Research Travel Award. The award provides funds for an undergraduate student to attend a regional or national conference. 

See photos below from Olivia's presentation. Great job, Olivia!