Coleen T. Murphy

Coleen T. Murphy is the James A. Elkins Jr. Professor in the Life Sciences and Professor of Molecular Biology and the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics at Princeton University. She serves as Director of the Lewis-Sigler Institute and Director of the Paul F. Glenn Laboratories for Aging Research, highlighting her leadership in aging and genomics research. Her work bridges molecular biology, genetics, and computational approaches to understand aging and age-related decline.

Her research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of aging, particularly using the nematode C. elegans as a model organism. Key interests include longevity pathways, insulin/IGF-1 signaling, reproductive aging, neurodegenerative diseases, transgenerational inheritance, and mitochondrial function. Her lab integrates genomic, transcriptomic, and functional screening techniques to identify genes and pathways that regulate aging and healthspan.

The recent publications of her lab demonstrate a strong trend in interdisciplinary research combining genetics, neuroscience, and computational biology. Themes include cognitive aging, learned behavior, pathogen avoidance, metabolic regulation, and drug discovery in neurodegenerative models. Her work increasingly employs high-throughput methods and cross-omics analysis to uncover conserved mechanisms relevant to human health.

• HHMI Faculty Scholar, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (2016)
• Pioneer Award, National Institutes of Health (2015)
• Innovation Award, Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University (2014)
• Glenn Foundation for Medical Research Award (2012)

Dr. Murphy leads a vibrant research group and mentors numerous students and postdoctoral researchers. Her lab has secured significant funding from HHMI, NIH, and the Glenn Foundation, supporting innovative projects in aging and longevity. She also directs major research initiatives, including the Simons Foundation’s SCPAB (Plasticity and the Aging Brain), underscoring her national leadership.

The Murphy Lab at Princeton is a multidisciplinary team employing C. elegans to study aging, cognitive decline, and intergenerational signaling. The lab utilizes cutting-edge tools including microfluidics (e.g., CeLab), transcriptomics, and behavioral assays. It is part of the Department of Molecular Biology and the Lewis-Sigler Institute, fostering collaboration across genomics, neuroscience, and computational biology.