معرفی
Kara Cerveny is the Ronald A. Laing Professor of Biology at Reed College, affiliated with the Biology Department within the Division of Mathematical and Natural Sciences. She holds a BS in Biology from Duke University, a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Cellular, and Molecular Biology from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and completed postdoctoral research at University College London. Her research focuses on zebrafish visual system development, specifically how neuronal stem cells transition from proliferation to differentiation. She teaches courses including Developmental Biology (BIO 351L) and mentors thesis projects. Her work is supported by grants from the NIH National Eye Institute, MJ Murdock Trust, and Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation. Awards include the Damon Runyon Post-Doctoral Fellowship and a Beckman Young Investigator Award (2021). Her lab explores retinal neurogenesis, stem cell niches, and growth control mechanisms in collaboration with international research groups.
Research highlights include studies on the ciliary marginal zone (CMZ) and extrinsic signaling pathways (Hedgehog, TGF-β, Notch). She also investigates coordinated growth between the retina and optic tectum. Outreach efforts include advising Reed's Science Outreach program and public science engagement initiatives. Her lab's contributions are featured in journals like Development, PLoS ONE, and Molecular Cell Biology.
