Susan L Forsburg

Susan L. Forsburg is a Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Southern California (USC), affiliated with the Molecular & Computational Biology Section within the Department of Biological Sciences at the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. in Biology (Genetics) from MIT and a B.A. in English and Molecular Biology from UC Berkeley. Her research focuses on DNA replication, genome stability, and chromosome dynamics using the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe as a model system.

Her work investigates how defects in DNA replication contribute to genome instability, with applications to cancer research. Key areas include MCM protein function, replication stress responses, and the role of heterochromatin in centromere integrity. She leads the Forsburg Lab, which employs advanced microscopy and genetic approaches to study these processes.

Dr. Forsburg has received numerous awards, including Fellowships from the American Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, American Academy of Microbiology, and other prestigious organizations. Her lab's contributions span replication mechanisms, checkpoint signaling, and the development of tools for live-cell imaging in yeast.

• Education:
• Ph.D., Biology (Genetics), MIT
• B.A., English and Molecular Biology, UC Berkeley

Her research combines classical genetics with cutting-edge technologies to uncover mechanisms underlying genome integrity, with implications for understanding cancer and genetic disorders.