Karen Kim Guisbert

Karen Kim Guisbert is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Nebraska Omaha (College of Arts and Sciences). Her research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of fertilization, oogenesis, and early embryogenesis using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. She has developed a fluorescent tool to study fertilization in live organisms, exploring cell-cell interactions and cellular processes via genetics, cell biology, and molecular biology.

Education:

• B.S. in Biochemistry, University of Rochester, 1997
• Ph.D. in Cell Biology, University of California San Francisco, 2006

Research Interests:

Her work examines the dynamic processes from egg formation (oogenesis) through fertilization and early embryonic development. Key areas include calcium signaling during fertilization, cell-cell communication, and the regulation of developmental events. Her lab uses advanced techniques to dissect these processes in C. elegans, contributing to broader understanding of reproductive and developmental biology.

Teaching: She teaches courses in Genetics (BIOL 2140), Developmental Biology (BIOL 4850), and Biology I Lab (BIOL 1450).

Lab Location: Allwine 438 (office: Allwine 109A).