Patricia Wittkopp

Patricia Wittkopp is a Professor at the University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, with dual appointments in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology. Her research focuses on understanding genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying phenotypic differences within and between species, particularly through gene expression regulation.

• Education: University of Michigan (undergraduate), University of Wisconsin-Madison (PhD), Cornell University (postdoc)
• Research Areas: Transcriptional regulation, cis/trans-regulatory evolution, gene network divergence, and evolutionary processes

Her lab combines molecular biology, developmental genetics, and computational approaches to study Drosophila and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Recent work explores mutation-selection dynamics, chromatin accessibility, and microRNA-driven adaptations across species.

Scientific Awards:

• Arthur F. Thurnau Professor
• Sally L. Allen Collegiate Professor