Matthew Ronshaugen

Matthew Ronshaugen is a Senior Lecturer in the Division of Developmental Biology & Medicine (L5) at the Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester. He has held academic positions since 2007 as a Manchester Fellow, followed by Lecturer (2012-2017), and Senior Lecturer since 2017.

• 1991-1995: Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Linguistics, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• 1995-1997: Master of Science in Systematics, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• 1997-2002: Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Molecular Biology, University of California, San Diego
• 2003-2007: Ruth L. Kirschstein NIH Postdoctoral Fellow at University of California, Berkeley

His research focuses on non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), particularly their roles in gene expression and developmental differentiation. His lab investigates how ncRNA evolution contributes to metazoan body plan diversification, centering on the Hox complex—a conserved genomic region rich in ncRNAs. He uses tiling microarrays and fluorescent in situ hybridization to analyze ncRNA dynamics in Drosophila, Tribolium, and Parhyale.

Recent publications highlight his work on miRNA functions in embryonic development, aging-related changes in myeloid cells, and comparative transcriptomics across arthropods. His team employs genetics tools to dissect ncRNA roles in transcriptional regulation, epigenetic control, and silencing mechanisms.

Scientific Awards:

• Ruth L. Kirschstein NIH Postdoctoral Fellow
• Manchester Fellow

He supervises research on developmental transcriptomes and contributes to datasets on piRNA expression and Hox complex analysis. Collaborations span immunology, genomics, and evolutionary development, with outputs cited in fields like RNA interference, transgenics, and wound healing.