Kimberly L. McArthur

Dr. Kimberly L. McArthur is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, where she has been teaching since 2019. Her research focuses on neural circuit development using larval zebrafish as a model organism to explore fundamental questions about how neural circuits form and function.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Washington University in St. Louis (2011)
• B.A. in Biology from Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, MN (2004)

Dr. McArthur's research investigates how neurons choose synaptic partners, how these partnerships change over time and respond to disruptions, and what consequences these have for circuit function and behavior. Her lab directly observes circuit development in the hindbrain of larval zebrafish using electrophysiology, neuronal tracing, calcium imaging, and behavioral analysis. Her work bridges developmental biology and neuroscience to understand the fundamental principles of neural circuit formation.

Her recent publications (2023-2024) demonstrate a continued focus on the structural and functional organization of cranial motor neurons, examining dendritic topography, respiratory circuit development, and activity-dependent refinement of neural connections. These works build on her earlier research exploring the resilience of neural circuits to disruptions in neuronal migration, revealing surprising robustness in neural circuit organization.

Mentoring Achievements:

• Annika Tracy '25 won first place undergraduate talk award for neuroscience section based on collaboration with Dr. McArthur
• Multiple student co-authors on recent publications including Emma Astad '21, Emmett Griffin-Baldwin '22, Bria Tovar '22, and Vivian Tovar '22

Dr. McArthur actively mentors undergraduate researchers in her lab, providing hands-on experience with cutting-edge neuroscience techniques. Her teaching portfolio includes courses in developmental biology, neurobiology, and explorations in biology, where she emphasizes scientific thinking and critical analysis of primary literature. Her laboratory in Fondren-Jones 207 utilizes the larval zebrafish model system to directly observe neural circuit development through electrophysiology, transgenic approaches, and imaging techniques.