Samantha J. Butler

Samantha J. Butler is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurobiology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Her research focuses on the mechanisms governing neuronal network formation during development, particularly the role of Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs) as morphogens and axon guidance signals. She investigates how intrinsic factors translate BMP signaling to control cell fate and axon guidance, and how these developmental processes can be harnessed for neural circuit regeneration in damaged or diseased nervous systems.

• Education: B.A. from Cambridge University, Ph.D. from Princeton University, Postdoctoral training at Columbia University
• Research Interests: Neuronal network development, BMP signaling, axon guidance, neural regeneration
• Funding: NIH, CIRM, Department of Defense, March of Dimes, Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, Jean Perkins Foundation