Professor Dr. Michelle Labonte

Biography

Michelle LaBonte is an Assistant Professor of Critical Disability Studies at Purdue University in the College of Liberal Arts. Her research focuses on the history of medicine, particularly how sociocultural and scientific factors have contributed to diagnostic uncertainty in medicine. LaBonte's book, "Challenging Diagnosis: Cystic Fibrosis Quest for Certainty," published by the University of Chicago Press, explores the complexities of diagnosing cystic fibrosis, showcasing the persistent challenges and uncertainties despite advancements in medical technology. With a background as a biologist, she earned her BA in Molecular Biology from Princeton University and her PhD in the History of Science from Harvard University. Prior to her role at Purdue, LaBonte was a Lecturer in the Department of the History of Science at Harvard and spent ten years teaching both in classroom and laboratory settings. She has received multiple awards for her teaching and research, particularly in immunology and biomedical ethics, and has published widely in the fields of molecular genetics and biology education. LaBonte is currently accepting graduate students to further her research interests in the history of modern biomedicine.

Research Interests

Experience