Cathy Savage-Dunn

Dr. Cathy Savage-Dunn is a Professor at Queens College, City University of New York (CUNY), specializing in cell signaling mechanisms using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Her laboratory focuses on TGFβ-related pathways, particularly the DBL-1 signaling pathway, investigating its roles in body size regulation, fat storage, and developmental processes. She leads the CSwormlab, active on Twitter and Instagram (@CSwormlab).

Education: Ph.D., Columbia University. Her research integrates genetic, molecular, and imaging techniques to study how TGFβ signaling influences developmental outcomes and disease-relevant processes. She has mentored numerous doctoral and undergraduate students, many of whom have pursued academic and industry careers.

Key research interests include:

• Cell-cell signaling in development and disease.
• Body size control via epidermal signaling and cuticle collagen regulation.
• Feedback mechanisms between TGFβ pathways and extracellular matrix components.
• Genetic screens identifying novel TGFβ signaling components, including sma-9 and adt-2.

Advising: Current students include PhD candidates Emma Ciccarelli and Kat Yamamoto, and undergraduates Moshe Bendelstein and Hannah Reich. Alumni have transitioned into academic, medical, and industry roles. Lab alumni include researchers at institutions like Columbia University and Thomas Jefferson University.

Labs/Teams: The lab is located in NSB D-349, Queens College, with active collaborations in developmental biology and C. elegans genetics.