Iva Greenwald

Iva Greenwald is a Professor at Columbia University in the Departments of Biological Sciences and Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics. Her research focuses on cell-cell interactions, signal transduction, and cell fate specification using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism. She has made seminal contributions to understanding the LIN-12/Notch signaling pathway, which is critical for developmental processes and implicated in human diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's.

Her work integrates genetic analysis, suppressor/enhancer screens, and advanced tools like genetically-encoded biosensors (SALSA, ERK-nKTR) to dissect signaling dynamics in vivo. She has identified conserved modulators of Notch activity and elucidated mechanisms of interorgan communication via PTEN and TOR pathways. Current projects include studying evolutionary plasticity in Notch activation and developing conditional gene expression systems (Flexon) for precise genetic manipulation.

Scientific Awards:

• National Academy of Sciences Member
• American Academy of Arts & Sciences Member

Research Trends:

• Her recent articles emphasize evolutionary adaptations in Notch signaling, interorgan developmental coordination, and genetic tools for spatiotemporal analysis.
• Key subfields include signal transduction mechanics, transcriptional feedback loops, and disease-related pathway dysregulation.