Janet Duerr

Janet Duerr is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Ohio University's College of Arts and Sciences. She also serves as Director of Studies for the Neuroscience Program in the Honors Tutorial College. Her research lab is located in the Life Science Building, where she combines research on neuronal development and function with teaching and mentoring.

• Ph.D. in Biology (Neuroscience), Princeton University, 1987
• M.S. in Biology, Princeton University, 1981
• B.S. in Biology, Stanford University, 1978

Dr. Duerr's research focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying nervous system development and function using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Her work investigates monoamine neurotransmission (dopamine and serotonin) and epigenetic regulation via histone demethylase AMX1. She employs genetics, molecular biology, cell biology, microscopy, and behavioral assays to study gene function in neurons.

Her recent publications reveal a consistent focus on neurotransmitter systems, synaptic proteins, and gene regulation in C. elegans. Themes include vesicular transporters, synaptic function, neuronal identity, and developmental regulation. The research bridges molecular mechanisms with behavioral outputs, contributing to understanding conserved neural processes in humans.

Dr. Duerr has mentored undergraduate and graduate students in her lab and teaches courses such as Biological Sciences I, Genetics Lab, and Advanced Cell Biology. She has been continuously active in research since the 1990s, with publications spanning over a decade.