Elizabeth Kiffmeyer

Entering Class - 2022
Pronouns: She/Her

E-MAIL:  [email protected]

Undergraduate Institution and Major:

Augustana University, B.A. in Biology & Psychology, 2022

Graduate Advisor

Zhe Chen, Department of Neuroscience

Graduate Research:

General Information and Significance: I am investigating molecular processes that control the precise developmental progression (i.e. timing) of cortical maturation, their resultant impacts on cognitive and social functions, and the mechanistic role mitochondria may play in these cortical development phenotypes. While my project focuses on underlying neurobiological mechanisms, these results can provide insights into the pathogenesis of complex brain disorders that are associated with dysregulated cortical development, including autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, epilepsy and more. Specific Information: For my thesis research, the specific molecular mechanism I am investigating is alternative splicing, which generates multiple proteins from the same gene. This involves the utilization of unique, alternative splice variant-specific mouse models developed by my advisor, Dr. Zhe Chen. Methodologies: My research employs various methodologies, including birth-dating experiments, immunostaining, imaging, behavioral assays, cell culture, and mitochondrial respiration assays.

Graduate Awards/Honors

Morris Smithberg Memorial, Prize 2023 
NIH NINDS T32 Grant Appointee 2023-2024

GPN Committees

GPN Outreach and Community Engagement Committee, 2024-present

Thesis Committee

Yasushi Nakagawa, MD, PhD (Chair), Department of Neuroscience 
Zhe Chen, PhD (Advisor), Department of Neuroscience 
Thomas Bastian, PhD, Department of Pediatrics 
Yi-Mei (Amy) Yang, PhD, Department of Biomedical Sciences, UMN Duluth

Rotations

Jed Elison, Ph.D., Institute of Child Development 
Helen Vuong, Ph.D., Department of Pediatrics
Zhe Chen, Ph.D., Department of Neuroscience

Undergraduate Publications

  • Kiffmeyer EA, Cosgrove JA, Siganos JK, Bien HE, Vipond JE, Vogt KR, Kloth AD. Deficits in cerebellum-dependent learning and cerebellar morphology in male and female BTBR autism model mice. NeuroSci. 2022; 3(4):624-644. https://doi.org/10.3390/neurosci3040045 
  • Cosgrove JA*, Kelly LK*, Kiffmeyer EA*, Kloth AD. Sex-dependent influence of post-weaning environmental enrichment in Angelman syndrome model mice. Brain and Behavior, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.2468. (* indicates that authors contributed equally to the work)

Undergraduate Awards/Honors

Goldwater Scholarship, 2021 
Poster Award at Arthur Olsen Student Research Symposium, 2020 and 2021 
Augustana University Dean's List, 2018-2022

Elizabeth Kiffmeyer