Denise Ferkey

Denise Ferkey, PhD, is an Associate Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University at Buffalo. Her research focuses on understanding regulatory mechanisms of animal behavior using C. elegans sensory biology as a model system. Key interests include G protein-coupled signal transduction pathways and dopamine modulation. Ferkey holds a BS from Saint Norbert College, a PhD from the University of Washington, and completed postdoctoral research at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School.

Education:

• BS in Biology, Saint Norbert College
• PhD in Biology, University of Washington
• Postdoctoral Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center & Harvard Medical School

Research Interests: Ferkey’s lab investigates sensory signaling pathways, particularly how GPCRs and dopamine receptors regulate behavior. Recent breakthroughs include demonstrating arginine methylation’s role in D2 dopamine receptor signaling, a discovery with implications for neuropsychiatric disorder treatments.

Funding:

• Ellison Medical Foundation
• National Science Foundation
• National Institutes of Health

Labs/Teams: Her research group employs interdisciplinary approaches combining genetics, biochemistry, and live-imaging to study C. elegans neural circuits and signaling pathways.