Kate O'connor-giles PhD

Kathleen O’Connor-Giles was a Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Genetics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In the laboratory of Barry Ganetzky, her research employed the Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ) as a model system for dissecting the mechanisms by which neurons integrate multiple cues to form synapses of the correct size and strength. Specifically, she conducted experiments to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that regulate through the detailed characterization of Nervous wreck (Nwk), a key regulator of synaptic growth, while also expanding investigations through the identification of additional genes required for the proper growth of synapses. She earned her Ph.D. Molecular Genetics from Washington University, and her B.S. in Economics and Environmental Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Parkland College.