Julia Paxson

Dr. Julia Paxson is an Associate Professor and Department Chair in the Biology Department at the College of the Holy Cross. She holds a Ph.D. in Developmental Biology from Yale University and a D.V.M. from Tufts University. Her research focuses on pluripotent cell states across the lifespan, particularly in lung mesenchymal stromal cells (LMSCs) in dogs and neoblasts in the marine worm Hofstenia miamia. Her lab is funded by the National Institute of Aging (NIH R15) to study tissue repair and aging mechanisms. She teaches courses including Introduction to Mechanisms of Multicellular Life, Developmental Biology, and The Diverse Biology of Stem Cells.

Her academic career spans research and clinical practice, combining developmental biology with veterinary medicine. She completed a residency in large animal internal medicine and is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM-LA). Her work bridges basic science and clinical applications, emphasizing regenerative biology and stem cell dynamics.

Dr. Paxson’s lab explores how pluripotent cell states drive embryonic development, tissue homeostasis, and regeneration, with implications for aging and disease. She values collaborative research and mentors students in interdisciplinary projects at Holy Cross.