Ajay Narendra

Professor Ajay Narendra is a distinguished neuroethologist and Research Training Director at the School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, where he investigates the remarkable navigational capabilities of arthropods. His research focuses on how animals with "mini-nervous systems" successfully traverse complex natural habitats, spanning various scales of movement—from minute head and leg adjustments to high-speed chases and sophisticated homing behaviors. By integrating behavioral ecology with neurobiology, Professor Narendra seeks to decode the sensory structures and neural machinery that allow these organisms to memorize, integrate, and recall spatial information. His laboratory is dedicated to mapping neural circuitry and identifying the physiological pathways that underpin goal-directed movement, a trait essential for survival. An international leader in his field, he maintains an active research team exploring the intersection of physiology and environmental navigation. His interdisciplinary approach provides critical insights into how limited neural resources can produce remarkably efficient and robust survival behaviors across diverse global landscapes.