Caitlin Wong Hickernell specializes in studying how cells adapt at the molecular level, focusing on the process of translating cellular genetic information into protein molecules. Her research extends to analyzing near-instantaneous cellular responses to environmental stress across species with multi-million-year evolutionary divergence. She concentrates on the massive assembly of proteins and RNA in response to changes in the cellular environment and exploits biological discoveries to engineer self-assembling molecules for useful applications. Caitlin has contributed to significant advancements in the understanding of RNA condensation, highlighted by her major publication in Molecular Cell regarding stress-triggered RNA condensation. She recently completed her thesis defense, showcasing her discoveries in this field.
North Park University • Chicago, IL
Newly appointed faculty member focusing on cellular biology and molecular studies.