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faculty
Katrina Velle '12, PhD she/her
Assistant Professor
Biology
Education
2018 | University of Connecticut | PhD |
2012 | University of Massachusetts Dartmouth | BS |
Courses
An advanced study of mechanisms of eukaryotic cell function for students interested in medical or research oriented careers. General areas of focus include internal cellular organization and interactions between cells and their environment. Lectures emphasize experimental perspectives and analysis of current literature in select topics
An advanced research project in an advanced student's field of general interest conducted under the supervision of an appropriate staff member, in the form of independent research leading to the solution of a problem. (Hours will be arranged)
An advanced research project in an advanced student's field of general interest conducted under the supervision of an appropriate staff member, in the form of independent research leading to the solution of a problem. (Hours will be arranged)
In-depth study of a specific area in biology, leading to independent research addressing a biological question. Research results will be presented in a professional-style poster at a research symposium. Attendance at biology department seminars is also required.
An advanced study of mechanisms of eukaryotic cell function for students interested in medical or research oriented careers. General areas of focus include internal cellular organization and interactions between cells and their environment. Lectures emphasize experimental perspectives and analysis of current literature in select topics
Investigations of a fundamental and/or applied nature culminating in an original contribution to the scholarly research literature of Integrative Biology. Doctoral research contributes to the student's dissertation and should be presented at major conferences and ultimately published in refereed journals. A written dissertation must be completed and defended in accordance with the rules of the Graduate School and the Integrative Biology PhD Program.
Investigations of a fundamental and/or applied nature culminating in an original contribution to the scholarly research literature of Integrative Biology. Doctoral research contributes to the student's dissertation and should be presented at major conferences and ultimately published in refereed journals. A written dissertation must be completed and defended in accordance with the rules of the Graduate School and the Integrative Biology PhD Program.
Research
Research awards
- $ 249,000 awarded by NIH - National Institutes of Health for Defining Cytoskeletal Mechanisms Driving Cell Motility in Naegleria
- $ 100,450 awarded by Amazing Avens Quest For Amoeba Awareness for Defining the Basic Biology Underlying Disease-Causing Traits in Naegleria
Research interests
- Cell migration
- Actin cytoskeleton
- Amoebae
- Microbial pathogenesis
Select publications
- Katrina B Velle, Rikki M Garner, Tatihana K Beckford, Makaela Weeda, Chunzi Liu, Andrew S Kennard, Marc Edwards, and Lillian K Fritz-Laylin (2023).
A conserved pressure-driven mechanism for regulating cytosolic osmolarity
Current Biology, 33, 3325-3337.e5. - Katrina B Velle, Andrew S Kennard, Monika Trupinić, Arian Ivec, Andrew J M Swafford, Emily Nolton, Luke M Rice, Iva M Tolić , Lillian K Fritz-Laylin, and Patricia Wadsworth (2022).
Naegleria's mitotic spindles are built from unique tubulins and highlight core spindle features
Current Biology, 32, 1247-1261.e6. - Katrina B Velle and Lillian K Fritz-Laylin (2020).
Conserved actin machinery drives microtubule-independent motility and phagocytosis in Naegleria
Journal of Cell Biology, 219
Additional links
Latest from Katrina
Mentioned in
- Feb 14, 2024 Katrina Velle '12: Paying it back