IDeA Award 2022: Emily Shifley

Institution: Northern Kentucky University
Department: Biological Sciences
Rank: Associate Professor
Project Title: The role of FGF signaling in patterning the Xenopus pharynx
About the project: As a developmental biologist, I am interested in understanding how organs develop in the early vertebrate embryo and I use the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, as a model organism. My research is focused on discovering and understanding the genetic signals that guide embryonic development, which is important because it can help explain why certain birth defects occur and how we might prevent or treat them.
How KY INBRE will help accomplish these goals: KY INBRE funding is allowing me to gather data that can be used to apply for NIH grants and for publications to share our results with other researchers.
Outside of the classroom/lab: I love to watch movies, read, and spend time with my three kids.

Xenopus embryo stained for gene expression with in situ hybridization