Department of Biology

Lab

Biology Bldg. 333
Weaver Lab website
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Awards

• Indiana University Trustees Teaching Award, 2023
• NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00), 2018
• NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, 2016

Research

How do organs talk to each other to regulate stem cell lineages and maintain tissue homeostasis? And what do they talk about?

Stem cells are required for tissue maintenance and repair during the lifetime of an organism. Altered physiology can influence tissue homeostasis through disruption of endocrine tissues, resulting in changes in metabolism, steroid and hormone levels, and secretion of circulating factors in the body.

The Weaver lab takes advantage of transcription factors called nuclear receptors that act as environmental sensors to influence gene expression in response to physiological changes. We currently use the Drosophila ovary as a model to understand how stem cell lineages and tissue homeostasis are regulated by nuclear receptor signaling via inter-organ communication.

Our research will provide the foundation towards understanding the downstream mechanisms used by transcription factors in peripheral tissues to influence the behavior of adult stem cell lineages found in the fruit fly (e.g., ovary and gut). It is our hope that our work will inform future studies focused on understanding how disrupted endocrine signaling results in tissue and organ failure.

Research areas

Developmental Mechanisms and Regulation in Eukaryotic Systems
Eukaryotic Cell Biology, Cytoskeleton, and Signaling

Supporting historically excluded groups in STEM

In addition to my research, I am particularly interested in increasing the number and retention of underrepresented minorities in STEM-related fields. Through my involvement as a counselor for the Jim Holland Summer Science Research Programs at Indiana University, which allows minority high school students to experience research outside of the classroom, as well as serving as an inaugural member of the diversity and inclusion committee while a postdoc at The Johns Hopkins University, I hope to inspire and provide support for future and fellow minority scientists.