Stephanie Gupton

Stephanie Gupton, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Cell Biology & Physiology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. She is affiliated with the UNC Neuroscience Center and the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Her research focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying nervous system development, particularly the roles of E3 ubiquitin ligases like TRIM9 and TRIM67 in regulating cytoskeletal dynamics and vesicle trafficking during axon guidance and branching in cortical neurons. Her work integrates microfluidic approaches, proteomics, advanced microscopy, and behavioral studies to bridge in vitro and in vivo mechanisms.

Dr. Gupton holds a B.S. from North Carolina State University (2001), a Ph.D. from the Scripps Research Institute (2006), and completed postdoctoral training at MIT (2006-2011). Her lab employs cutting-edge techniques such as computational modeling, mass spectrometry, and live-cell imaging to dissect mechanisms of neuronal morphogenesis. Current projects explore how ubiquitination regulates actin dynamics and synaptic function, with implications for neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.

Her research themes include: 1) TRIM9/67 regulation of axon guidance via netrin signaling, 2) novel roles of ubiquitin beyond protein degradation, 3) exocytosis dynamics in neuronal shape changes, and 4) in vivo consequences of identified mechanisms using behavioral assays. The lab environment emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and training the next generation of scientists.

• Affiliations: UNC Neuroscience Center, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Labs/Teams: Gupton Lab (specializing in neuronal morphogenesis)
• Grants & Funding: Active NIH grants supporting work on TRIM9 in Alzheimer’s disease and cancer biology