Holly Goodson

Holly Goodson is a Professor in the College of Science at the University of Notre Dame, where she also serves as Interim Associate Dean for Education & Undergraduate Programs. Her research is centered on the microtubule cytoskeleton and molecular evolution, combining biochemical, molecular, and computational approaches.

• Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Stanford University (1996)
• A.B. in Molecular Biology, Princeton University (1988)
• Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Geneva, Switzerland (1995–1999)

Her research focuses on the dynamic behavior of the microtubule cytoskeleton, particularly how it assembles, turns over, and interacts with organelles and chromosomes. She investigates +TIP proteins, Tau (linked to Alzheimer’s), and stathmin (linked to cancer), using biochemistry, molecular biology, quantitative microscopy, and computational modeling in collaboration with applied mathematician Mark Alber. A secondary focus is molecular evolution, where she uses bioinformatics and natural sequence variation to infer protein function and structure.

Her recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on microtubule dynamics, protein interactions, and the formation of biomolecular condensates. Themes include cytoskeletal regulation, disease mechanisms, and interdisciplinary modeling. She has also contributed to science education through case studies on protein-ligand interactions.

Notable awards include:

• Fellow of the American Society for Cell Biology (2023)
• Keynote Speaker, Scialog: Chemical Machinery of the Cell (2019)
• Panel Member, Solvay Conference in Physics (2017)
• Thomas P. Madden and Joyce Teaching Awards (2012)
• Helen Hay Whitney and EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships
• National Science Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship

Holly Goodson has been mentoring students and leading a research laboratory at Notre Dame since 2000. She has secured significant recognition for both her research and teaching excellence. Her work bridges biology and computation, and she has been involved in collaborative projects, including developing biosensors and in silico evolution models. While specific grant details are not listed, her sustained research output and fellowships indicate strong funding support.

She leads the Goodson Laboratory, which employs multifaceted approaches to study life processes at the molecular level. The lab integrates experimental and computational techniques to explore cytoskeletal dynamics and molecular evolution, contributing to both fundamental biology and biomedical applications.