Krista Bluske
Ph.D. 2012
Thesis Title:
Investigating neurogenesis and cell type specification in the mammalian thalamus
Current Position:
Curation Scientist, Illumina
Former Position(s):
Postdoctoral Fellow, Developmental Neuroscience, The Scripps Institute, California.
Undergraduate Institution and Major/Degree:
University of Wisconsin, Madison - BS 2006 - Biology
Major Advisor:
Yasushi Nakagawa, Ph.D.
Research Description:
I am interested in the role of transcription factors in patterning the developing thalamus and their role in the development of thalmocortical axons.
Courses Taken Beyond the Core Courses:
- GCD Advanced Developmental Biology
- GCD Advanced Genetics
Conferences Attended:
- Society for Neuroscience - Fall 2006, 2009
- Society for Developmental Biology annual meeting
Committee Members:
- Paul Letourneau - Chair
- Steve McLoon
- Laura Gammill
- Yasushi Nakagawa - Advisor
Publications:
- Bluske KK, Vue TY, Kawakami Y, Taketo MM, Yoshikawa K, Johnson JE, Nakagawa Y. beta-catenin signaling specifies progenitor cell identity in concert with Shh signaling in the developing mammalian thalamus. Development 2012;139:2692-702.
- Wang L*, Bluske KK*, Dickel LK, Nakagawa Y. Basal progenitor cells in the embryonic mouse thalamus - their molecular characterization and the role of neurogenins and Pax6. Neural Dev. 2011 Nov 11;6:35. (*: co-first authors)
- Vue TY, Bluske KK, Alishahi A, Yang L, Koyano-Nakagawa N, Novitch B, Nakagawa Y. Sonic hedgehog signaling controls thalamic progenitor identity and nuclei specification in mice. J Neurosci. 2009;29(14):4484-4497.
- Bluske KK, Kawakami Y, Koyano-Nakagawa N, Nakagawa Y. Differential activity of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in the embryonic mouse thalamus. Dev Dyn. 2009;238:3297-309.
Awards and Honors:
- Graduate School Fellowship for 2006-2007
- 2010 - University of Minnesota GPN Stark Award
- 2010 - University of Minnesota Developmental Biology Center/Stem Cell Institute Symposium Best Poster Award
Home Town:
- Red Wing, MN
