Using Drosophila as a model organism, Madhu aims to discover the novel conserved biological underpinnings of behavior. Previously she studied the process of behavioral habituation, in terms of the underlying neuronal circuits, synapses, and molecules involved. She is now investigating the endoparasitoid-mediated behavioral responses in fruit flies. Combining behavioral assays with neurogenetics, anatomy, and biochemical approaches; she aims to understand how the neural circuit regulates the germ cell physiology in response to a predatory wasp.