Stephanie Ceman

Dr. Stephanie Ceman is a Professor of Cell & Developmental Biology and Director of Graduate Studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s School of Molecular & Cellular Biology. She holds affiliations with the Beckman Institute, Neuroscience Graduate Program, Institute for Genomic Biology, and Carle Illinois College of Medicine. Her research focuses on the molecular basis of neurological disorders, particularly the role of RNA helicase MOV10 in brain development, neuronal function, and RNA-protein interactions. She has been recognized with the Campus Award for Excellence in Instruction and a College of LAS Teaching Award.

Dr. Ceman’s education includes a B.S. in Bacteriology and a Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, followed by postdoctoral training at the University of Chicago and Emory University. She teaches courses such as MCB 493 (Special Topics in Molecular Cell Biology) and NEUR 598 (Proseminar in Psychology).

Her lab investigates how MOV10 regulates RNA fate, dendritic branching, and fear memory through interactions with microRNAs and AGO2. Key findings include MOV10’s essential role in embryonic development and its suppression of retroelements in the brain. Recent work explores phosphorylation-mediated control of MOV10’s unwinding activity and its implications for translational regulation.

Dr. Ceman’s awards highlight her contributions to both research and education, and her collaborative programs bridge molecular biology with clinical applications in neuroscience.