Plasticity, the ability to reorganize in response to changing environments, is one of the most crucial adaptations in animals. It can be essential for survival, as individuals can adjust to dynamic evolutionary, ecological, and social conditions. Our research program focuses on deciphering the molecular mechanisms that govern plasticity. We study social wasps that display remarkable plasticity, forming dynamic hierarchies where individuals can switch castes and adapt to different environments. Excitingly, we are now leveraging parasite-induced reprogramming to decode caste-related social behavior, physiology, metabolism, brain architecture and aging.