Wendy Olivas

Wendy Olivas is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Her research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of Puf/Pumilio RNA-binding proteins in regulating mRNA lifespans and protein production, utilizing yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and human neural cell models.

• Education:
  • PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from University of Nebraska Medical Center (1996)
  • BS in Chemistry from Nebraska Wesleyan University (1992)

Her laboratory investigates how Puf proteins mediate mRNA degradation and respond to environmental and cellular signals. This work bridges fundamental molecular biology with RNA regulatory networks in eukaryotic systems.

Publications highlight her expertise in RNA biology, stress response mechanisms, and cross-species comparisons in microbial ecology. Notably, she has contributed to understanding Parkinson’s disease gene regulation via Pumilio proteins and microRNAs in neuronal cells, and microbial community dynamics in deadwood ecosystems.

Dr. Olivas serves as a member of academic communities through peer-reviewed journal contributions and collaborative research activities.