Dr. Michelle Starz-Gaiano
Professor · Tenured
Department of Biological Sciences
College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences
She/Her/Hers/Herself
About
Postdoctoral: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, D. Montell laboratory
Ph.D.: New York University, Developmental Genetics, R. Lehmann laboratory
B.S.: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Biology
Research interests
How do complex organs form during animal development? Our research group is working to identify the signaling events that enable cells to migrate, interact, and contribute to tissue architecture. We use Drosophila genetics, molecular biology, imaging, and interdisciplinary approaches. In particular, our research group focuses on understanding the regulation of the well-conserved Janus Kinase/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway, steroid hormone signaling, and growth factor signaling.
Teaching interests
Cell Biology, Developmental Genetics, Eukaryotic Molecular Genetics, Biomathematics. Evidence-based improvements in pedagogy.
Education
- Ph D, Developmental Genetics — New York University School of Medicine (2002)
- BS, Biology — Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1994)
Publications
- Steroid hormone signaling synchronizes cell migration machinery, adhesion, and polarity to direct collective movement 2024
- Mind bomb 2 promotes cell migration and epithelial structure by regulating adhesion complexes and the actin cytoskeleton 2022
- Development and Analysis of a Quantitative Mathematical Model of Bistability in the Cross Repression System Between APT and SLBO Within the JAK/STAT Signaling Pathway. 2020
- Clustered cell migration: Modeling the model system of Drosophila border cells 2020
- The age-specific phagocytic ability of adult Drosophila melanogaster hemocytes using an In vivo phagocytosis assay 2020
- Lisinopril Preserves Physical Resilience and Extends Life Span in a Genotype-Specific Manner in Drosophila melanogaster 2019
- Cytokine exocytosis and JAK/STAT activation in the Drosophila ovary requires the vesicle trafficking regulator α-Snap. 2018
- Circuitous genetic regulation governs a straightforward cell migration 2016
- Identification of Novel Regulators of the JAK/STAT Signaling Pathway in Border Cell Migration in the Drosophila Ovary 2016
- Apontic regulates somatic stem cell numbers in Drosophila testes 2016
- Socs36E limits STAT signaling via Cullin2 and a SOCS-box independent mechanism in the Drosophila egg chamber 2015
- Tissue landscape alters adjacent cell fates during Drosophila egg development. 2015
- Upright Imaging of <em>Drosophila</em> Egg Chambers 2015
- Upright imaging of Drosophila egg chambers 2015
- Phagocytic ability declines with age in adult Drosophila hemocytes 2014
- Group Choreography: Molecular Mechanisms Orchestrating the Collective Movement of Border Cells 2012
- Effects of cell packing on chemoattractant distribution within a tissue
Presentations
- A Minimal Model for STAT regulation in Initiation of Clustered Border Cell Migration. 2020
Grants and Contracts
- Regulation and function of STAT signaling in cell adhesion 2011
Courses Taught
- Cell Biology
- Eukaryotic Molecular Genetics
- Cell Biology
- Gen & Euk Mol Biol
- Eukaryotics Gen/Mol Biol