Jennifer Bestman

Jennifer Bestman is an Assistant Professor at the College of William and Mary, affiliated with the Department of Biology under the College of Arts & Sciences. Her research focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms guiding visual system development, with expertise in neuroscience and developmental biology.

Education:

• B.S. in Biology from the University of Minnesota (1995)
• Ph.D. in Neurobiology and Behavior from Cornell University (2003)

Jennifer's research spans mitochondrial dynamics, neural progenitor cell differentiation, and in vivo imaging techniques in model organisms like Xenopus laevis and zebrafish. She has explored RNA binding proteins in dendritic development and functional genomic screens for neurogenic genes.

Her publications (2007-2024) highlight expertise in mitochondrial dysfunction, seizure suppression mechanisms, and synaptic development. Key methodologies include time-lapse imaging, morpholino screens, and transcriptomic analysis in developmental neuroscience.