Erin Cram

Erin Cram is the Associate Dean for Research and an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Northeastern University's College of Science. She holds leadership roles in strategic research planning, grant support, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Her research focuses on cell migration and mechanotransduction in Caenorhabditis elegans, particularly how mechanical forces influence cell behavior and tissue function. She collaborates with Chemical Engineers to enhance drug compound production in Catharanthus roseus. Dr. Cram earned her BS in Biology from UNC Chapel Hill, a PhD in Molecular Cell Biology from UC Berkeley, and completed postdoctoral studies at Princeton University. She is committed to mentoring early-career faculty and advancing student research excellence through roles like Director of Graduate Studies in Biology. Her work bridges cell biology and engineering, with notable contributions to understanding reproductive system mechanics and plant biotechnology. Her lab's innovations include developing imaging tools and protocols for mechanotransduction studies.

Education:

• Bachelor's of Science in Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• PhD in Molecular Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley
• Postdoctoral Studies in Cell Migration, Princeton University

Research Interests: Dr. Cram explores how cells sense and respond to mechanical forces, particularly in C. elegans reproductive tissues. Her work integrates live imaging, genetic approaches, and engineering collaborations to study cytoskeletal dynamics, calcium signaling, and contractility. Key areas include:

• Actomyosin network organization
• Calcium-mediated cell communication
• Plant-based pharmaceutical production

Awards and Grants: Notable funding includes an NSF grant (2015) for Catharanthus roseus research and collaboration with the Institute for Chemical Imaging of Living Systems. Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to address biomedical challenges.

Lab & Teams: The Cram Lab collaborates with bioengineers and international groups (e.g., Tel Aviv University) to advance mechanobiology and biomedical engineering. They prioritize training students in cutting-edge techniques like CRISPR and live-cell imaging.