Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland that regulates sleep and wakefulness. It is one of the most well documented elements of circadian regulation, and governs important behavioral patterns such as sleep, feeding, core body temperature, brain wave activity, hormone production, and cell regeneration. Despite its documented importance however, very little is known about the molecular mechanisms by which melatonin exerts these effects. My research goal is to use the model system Neurospora crassa, an organism has been integral to our understanding of circadian rhythms and their regulation, to investigate these molecular mechanisms behind the melatonin signaling pathway. It is my hope that a better understanding of this vital signaling pathway could lead to a better understanding of human health issues such as neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders.