Leilani Miller

Dr. Leilani Miller is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Santa Clara University's College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a B.S. from Stanford University and a Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her teaching portfolio includes courses in Genetics, Molecular Biology, and Ethical Issues in Biotechnology.

Miller's research focuses on developmental biology using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system. Her laboratory investigates how cell fates are specified during development, with particular emphasis on the winged-helix transcription factor LIN-31 and its roles in vulval development. Research approaches include genetic analysis, molecular biology techniques, and cellular approaches to understand developmental processes at the molecular level.

Her publications span developmental genetics, transcription factor function, and cell signaling pathways, with recent work appearing in journals such as Developmental Biology and Genetics. Miller's research has contributed significantly to understanding how extracellular signals influence cell fate decisions during development.