Dr. Margaret Mcfall Ngai

Biography

Margaret J. McFall-Ngai is a Faculty Associate in the Department of Biology and Biological Engineering at the California Institute of Technology. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of San Francisco in 1973 and her Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1983. McFall-Ngai's research focuses on host-bacterial symbiosis, particularly the squid-vibrio association, which has been the subject of her exploration for over 30 years. Her laboratory examines the critical questions surrounding beneficial animal-microbe associations, exploring how symbionts are recognized and established by hosts, and how these relationships influence both the development and stability of the animal. Some key findings include the identification of genes associated with eye specification in light organs, as well as the discovery of Reflectin, a protein that has significant industrial potential due to its unique properties. McFall-Ngai has held the title of Moore Distinguished Scholar at Caltech and is currently contributing to collaborative efforts in bioengineering.

Research Interests