About
Jennifer Bonner is an Associate Professor in the Biology Department at Skidmore College. She holds a BA in Microbiology from the University of New Hampshire, a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of British Columbia, and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Utah.
Her research focuses on understanding the genetic control of nervous system connectivity using zebrafish models. Key interests include:
- Guidance mechanisms for commissural neurons, sensory neurons, and motoneurons
- Spinal cord development and neuronal pathfinding
- Roles of canonical guidance cues in neural circuit formation
- Applications of genetics and gene knockdown technologies
Her publications primarily explore developmental neurobiology, with recurring themes in Wnt signaling, axon guidance mechanisms, and neural patterning across zebrafish, C. elegans, and grasshopper models. Methodological innovations in microscopy and laboratory techniques are also featured.
She teaches multiple courses including:
- Biological Sciences II
- Cell Biology
- Neurodevelopment
- Methods in Molecular Biology
- Introduction to Neuroscience
Dr. Bonner mentors undergraduate researchers in her zebrafish neurobiology laboratory, focusing on neural development and pathfinding mechanisms.
