Ruth Collins

Ruth Collins is an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University. Her research focuses on molecular mechanisms of Rab protein function and regulation in intracellular traffic, lipid modifications, and their implications in neurological diseases like Familial Dysautonomia.

• PhD in Cell Biology, Imperial College London/Cancer Research UK (1993)
• BSc in Biochemistry, University of Oxford (1988)

Her lab investigates the YIP1 family of membrane proteins and their role in binding Rab proteins, as well as the Elp complex's impact on polarized cell growth and exocytosis. These studies bridge yeast and mammalian systems, offering insights into fundamental cellular processes and human diseases.

Scientific awards include the 2006 Cornell Provost’s Award for Distinguished Scholarship, 2003 Pfizer Young Faculty Award, and multiple fellowships from NATO, Human Frontiers Science Program, and European Molecular Biology Organization.

Collins has served on the Graduate Education Review Committee at UNC Chapel Hill (2012) and is affiliated with the American Society for Cell Biology, Genetics Society of America, and New York Academy of Science.