Dr. Jill Wildonger

Biography

Jill Wildonger received her Ph.D. in Neurobiology and Behavior from Columbia University and completed her post-doctoral fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco. Before moving to the University of California, San Diego in 2021, she was a faculty member in the Biochemistry Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research focuses on cell polarity and its importance to cellular functions, particularly in the nervous system. Wildonger studies how neurons receive and send signals by examining the mechanisms that govern the internal organization and structure of neurons, which is crucial for effective neuronal communication. Utilizing innovative techniques from cell biology, genetics, and biochemistry, she investigates the activity of molecular motors and microtubules to understand how proteins and organelles are properly localized within neurons. Her laboratory employs the fruit fly model system to manipulate protein activities in vivo while also imaging live neurons in intact animals. Her long-term goals include elucidating the molecular logic of molecular motors involved in the trafficking and localization of key proteins and organelles, which in turn impacts neuronal activity and behavior.

Research Interests

Experience