Q&A: On creative neuroscience with MacArthur ‘Genius’ Vanessa Ruta

Rockefeller University neuroscientist Vanessa Ruta was just named a member of the latest class of MacArthur “Genius” grant winners. Her work involves better understanding how the nervous system takes in external cues such as smell and processes these stimuli to inspire various behaviors. I spoke with her to learn more.

Both your parents were artists. Did they influence how you work? 
I was strongly influenced by their creative process, which is parallel to how scientists work. There’s a kind of honing in your craft. It’s obvious in the artistic endeavors, whether it’s practicing dancing or something else. But it’s also there in the sciences — you have to be disciplined about pushing through with your experiments.

What’s a big research idea you’re pursuing? 
One big question is: How do you detect the enormous variety of chemicals in the environment? Insects have evolved a completely novel family of olfactory receptors. Using structural biology, we determined the structure of one of these last year. Insects use their sense of smell to find human hosts [and so] these are great target molecules for designing insect repellants.