Katherine Soderstrom

Katherine Soderstrom serves as a Senior Professional Lecturer in the Department of Biological Sciences within DePaul University's College of Science and Health. Her teaching portfolio spans foundational courses including Introduction to Biology with Laboratory (BIO 155) and General Biology I for Science Majors (BIO 191), alongside specialized offerings such as Brain and Behavior (BIO 126), The Brain: Biology and Behavior (BIO 162), Biostatistics (BIO 206), and the interdisciplinary Honors Biology: The Biology of Emotion (HON 220).

Her research program centers on Parkinson's disease neurobiology, with particular emphasis on neural circuit remodeling following cell-based therapies. Through animal models, she investigates graft-induced dyskinesias, dendritic spine preservation in medium spiny neurons, and striatal reorganization in parkinsonian states. This work bridges cognitive science and neuroanatomy, exploring how biological mechanisms underlie emotional processing and behavioral outcomes. Her publications consistently address translational challenges in dopamine replacement therapies.

Analysis of her scholarly output reveals a focused trajectory in Parkinson's disease mechanisms, particularly examining complications of neural transplantation. Her research demonstrates sophisticated integration of neuroanatomical, behavioral, and electrophysiological approaches to model human disease processes in rodent systems. The publications collectively advance understanding of why dopamine neuron grafts sometimes trigger dyskinetic movements despite therapeutic benefits.

No scientific awards or major honors were specified in the available documentation.

While student advising details remain unspecified in the source material, her teaching load indicates active mentorship of undergraduate researchers in biological sciences. The absence of grant mentions suggests potential focus on pedagogical development alongside targeted laboratory investigations within departmental resources.

Her work operates at the intersection of basic neurobiology and clinical applications, with implications for improving cell replacement strategies in neurodegenerative disorders. The research environment appears integrated within DePaul's Biological Sciences infrastructure, though specific laboratory affiliations aren't detailed in the provided text.