Laura I. Francis

Laura I. Francis is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Holding a B.A. from the University of Chicago (2001) and a Ph.D. from MIT (2008), she specializes in molecular mechanisms of cell function, particularly cell cycle regulation and DNA replication. Her postdoctoral training at UMass (2009-2011) focused on molecular biology, which she integrates into her teaching.

Research Interests:

• Molecular mechanisms of cell function
• Cell cycle control and DNA replication
• Molecular aspects of human disease and drug interventions

Teaching Philosophy: Emphasizes interactive learning, problem-based approaches, and critical thinking in large lecture courses using technologies like i>clicker. She connects research concepts to real-world applications.

Publications highlight her work on:

• Cell cycle kinase interactions (Mec1, Cdc7)
• Mcm2-7 helicase activation mechanisms
• DNA repair pathways in Escherichia coli