معرفی
Dr. Peggy Biga is an Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director in the Department of Biology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), part of the College of Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on comparative growth biology, developmental physiology, and diet-epigenetic interactions, particularly in skeletal muscle regulation. She holds a B.A. and M.A. in Animal Science and Nutrition from Angelo State University, followed by a Ph.D. in Nutritional Physiology from the University of Idaho. Post-doctoral training at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA, further specialized her expertise in comparative physiology.
Dr. Biga’s lab investigates molecular mechanisms governing muscle growth variability across species, using zebrafish and giant danio as comparative models. She co-leads the NSF-funded II-SAGE initiative exploring sex-specific aging mechanisms in animals. Her work integrates endocrinology, genomics, and epigenetics to study growth regulation, including GH-IGF systems, myostatin signaling, and dietary influences on metabolism. Collaborations extend to France, Canada, and the U.S., emphasizing cross-disciplinary research.
Key research themes include maternal nutrient supplementation effects on offspring growth, stress hormone impacts on muscle atrophy, and the role of miRNAs in epigenetic regulation. Dr. Biga also engages in science outreach, K-12 education, and science policy advocacy to enhance public scientific literacy.
