Robert Major

Robert Major is a Professor in the Biology Department at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, affiliated with the John J. and Char Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. His research focuses on developmental biology, regeneration, and tissue repair.

• BS in Biology, Rider University
• PhD in Cell and Developmental Biology, Rutgers University
• Postdoc in Regenerative Biology, Duke University Medical Center

Dr. Major investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying tissue regeneration using model organisms like freshwater planarians and zebrafish. His work explores conserved genetic pathways that could inform human tissue repair therapies.

His recent publications highlight studies on zebrafish heart regeneration, retinoic acid signaling, and stem cell dynamics in planarians. The research spans subfields including developmental cardiology, stem cell biology, and comparative regenerative medicine.

Dr. Major's lab utilizes planarian model systems to identify genes critical for stem cell (neoblast) proliferation and differentiation, with implications for understanding regenerative limitations in mammals.