Dr. Sergio Hidalgo joined Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2025 as an assistant professor in the Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience. Originally from Chile, Hidalgo earned dual doctoral degrees from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom before completing postdoctoral training at the University of California, Davis. His research explores how changing seasons influence the brain, behavior, and physiology, with the goal of better understanding both normal adaptation and diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and schizophrenia.
We recently spoke with Hidalgo about his research, his passion for mentoring students, and what drew him to WSU.
What are your current research interests and what attracted you to that area?
My research interests cover a broader range of topics, from neuronal plasticity to reproductive physiology. In our lab, we study how organisms sense the changing seasons and adjust their bodies and behavior in response. Seasonal shifts bring major changes in the environment, so being able to prepare for them is essential. Many organisms use environmental cues to trigger adaptations such as long-distance migration or pausing growth and reproduction. We investigate the molecular mechanisms that drive these seasonal adaptations using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism. By using this simple system, we aim to identify the factors that shape how we perceive seasonal time and to reveal how the body — especially the brain — changes with the seasons.
I got attracted to this topic while working on my PhD thesis. At that time, I found studies showing that the brain changes in both structure and function across the seasons. These findings made a strong impression on me and raised several questions: How does the brain coordinate these changes? How do they affect the body? What happens when these processes go wrong? These questions have guided my scientific interests ever since.
How can your research help people and animals?
Understanding the mechanisms that govern seasonal adaptations is valuable for multiple reasons. It can illuminate the seasonal components of symptomatology in several disorders, including schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease, and may also shed light on their etiology, as exemplified by seasonal affective disorder. Moreover, because we use an insect as an animal model, our findings may be extrapolated to other species of biomedical and agricultural relevance, such as mosquitoes and agricultural pests.
What do you enjoy about working with students?
One of the main things I love about working with students is their motivation to learn and explore. It keeps me motivated! We are very fortunate in CVM to have outstanding students who not only work hard to excel academically but are also driven to grow personally and professionally.
What motivates you outside of work?
Definitely my family and friends. In a world that can sometimes feel a bit harsh, having people who make every effort feel worth it means everything. For me, the biggest motivation is knowing that what we do helps make life better for both people and animals and makes the world a kinder place for the ones we love.
Why did you choose to come to WSU?
I chose to come to WSU because it has amazing programs, researchers, and students. It’s a really special place where you get all of that in a community that genuinely cares about your well-being.