April L. Horton

April L. Horton is the Wagener Family Professor of Equity and Inclusion in STEM at Bates College, Department of Biology. Her research focuses on the evolution of conserved gene regulatory networks in marine and freshwater sponges, exploring how these networks contribute to animal diversity and symbiotic relationships. She employs molecular, cellular, and genomic approaches, collaborating with field biologists and computational scientists.

Education: PhD in Human Genetics from the University of Houston.

Research interests include developmental biology, genetics, genomics, and symbiosis in sponges. Her lab investigates the molecular basis of animal evolution, symbiotic interactions between sponges and algae, and implications for environmental and biomedical research.

Publications highlight her work on symbiosis dynamics, sponge genomics, and developmental pathways. Students in her lab engage in diverse projects, including studying symbiotic microalgae and gene regulatory networks.

Labs/Teams: Her lab at Bates College uses cutting-edge techniques to address evolutionary and ecological questions. Collaborations focus on integrating field and lab studies to understand symbiotic systems and their broader implications.