Gail D. Burd, Ph.D.

Distinguished Professor,  Cell Biology and Anatomy and Molecular and Cellular Biology

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Science

Life Sciences - South 333A
P.O. Box 210106
Tucson, AZ 85721-0106
Phone: 520-621-1544
E-mail: gburd@email.arizona.edu

EDUCATION:

- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 1979 (Ph.D.)

HONORS AND AWARDS:

-Citation Award (Mortar Board Honor Society), 1993,
-Career Advancement Award (National Science Foundation), 1993
-Innovation in Teaching Award (UA College of Science), 1999
-Sarlo Family Foundation Outstanding Faculty Award, 2000
-University Distinguished Professor, 2003
-Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2003

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Development of the olfactory system; Genes involved in neural development; Role of sensory afferents and hormones in olfactory system development.

She is internationally recognized as an expert on development and neural plasticity in the vertebrate olfactory system. One active area of investigation in Burd's laboratory is finding out what genes are involved in forming the eye, nose and parts of the brain during early development by studying the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis. The research will help understand how human craniofacial disorders, such as cleft palate, occur. Her laboratory also is working to identify genes regulated by thyroid hormone that are involved in the bodily changes that occur during the frog's metamorphosis. In humans, thyroid hormone is important during early development and is a key hormone governing metabolism throughout life

RESEARCH SPONSORED THROUGH MSRP:

Linda Roeske (MSRP 1989): "Effects of degenerating olfactory receptor cells on the rate of neurogenesis and differentiation of new receptor cells in the clawed frog."

Joe Herrera (MSRP 1990): "The role of thyroid hormones in the development of the olfactory epithelium in xenopus laevis."

Last updated: 3/31/2006