ISD Virtual Seminars | Biological Differentiation Across the Scales
Join us for a free new virtual seminar series hosted by the editors-in-chief of Differentiation, the flagship journal of the International Society of Differentiation. This new series is designed to bring together researchers, students, and educators from around the world to discuss the latest advancements and research in the field of biological differentiation.
For each of the virtual seminars, the editors-in-chief will invite the lead and/or corresponding author(s) to present on their article published in Differentiation. The author and editors-in-chief will discuss the research and have a question-and-answer session at the end. Each virtual seminar will last for approximately 1 hour. This is a great opportunity to learn about research happening in the field, connect with the developmental biology community around the world, network, and learn more about publishing in a leading journal in the field of biological differentiation.
Differentiation Editors-in-Chief
Loydie Jerome-MajewskaMcGill University |
Crystal RogersUniversity of California, Davis |
Rosa UribeRice University |
Virtual Seminars
Virtual Seminar: Pavani Ponnimbaduge Perera
Broadcast Date: November 14, 2025
About the Presenter
Pavani Ponnimbaduge Pererea
Presenting On "Enteric neural crest development in Astyanax mexicanus surface fish and cavefish"
Pavani Ponnimbaduge Perera is a doctoral candidate in Dr. Misty Riddle’s lab in the Department of Biology at the University of Nevada, Reno. Her research examines how the vertebrate gastrointestinal tract evolves and develops as animals adapt to new diets, using the Mexican blind cavefish (Astyanax mexicanus), including both surface and cave morphs, as a comparative model.
Virtual Seminar: Julie Siegenthaler
Broadcast Date: July 11, 2025
About the Presenter
Julie Siegenthaler
Presenting on "Retinoic acid signaling in mouse retina endothelial cells is required for early angiogenic growth"
Julie Siegenthaler is Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental Biology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
Projects in the Siegenthaler lab use mouse genetic models, ex vivo and culture models, single cell transcriptional profiling, and animal models of postnatal and adult brain injury and disease (stroke, traumatic brain injury, viral encephalitis, meningitis) to address important questions in CNS biology with a specific focus on the meninges and vasculature.
Virtual Seminar: Evan C. Brooks
Broadcast Date: April 28, 2025
About the Presenter
Evan C. Brooks
Presenting on The ciliary protein C2cd3 is required for mandibular musculoskeletal tissue patterning
Evan C. Brooks is a postdoctoral research fellow in the lab of Dr. Katherine Fantauzzo in the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, where he investigates cellular mechanisms and gene regulation downstream of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) signaling activation in mammalian craniofacial development.
Brooks earned his PhD in molecular and developmental biology from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He worked in the lab of Dr. Samantha Brugmann in the Division of Developmental Biology, investigating the role of the ciliary protein C2cd3 in Hedgehog signaling and craniofacial tissue patterning using avian and murine embryo models. While at the University of Cincinnati, Brooks was heavily involved with the school's SACNAS chapter and helped found the Black Biomedical Graduates student group. Brooks received the Albert J. Ryan Foundation Fellowship, the highest honor bestowed upon a graduate student in the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine during their graduate studies, as well as the Albert C. Yates Fellowship from the University of Cincinnati Graduate College and an NIH F31 predoctoral research fellowship from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.