Biology

Biol 120 - Biological Concepts: Cells, Metabolism, and Genetics

2018-present Postdoctoral Researcher, Eugene Bell Center for Regenerative Biology and Tissue
Engineering, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA (Advisor: Dr. Jennifer
Morgan, Ph.D.)
Identifying cellular and molecular drivers of successful neuronal regeneration in
vertebrates

2015-2018 Visiting Researcher, Collaboration with Dr. Jennifer Morgan, Marine Biological
Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA
Identifying a conserved molecular identity of the Mauthner neuron across amniotes.

2013-2018 Research Assistant, Dissertation Research, Department of Organismal Biology and
Anatomy, University of Chicago (Dr. Melina Hale)
Exploring Ontogenetic Relationships Between Form and Function.

2010-2012 Undergraduate Researcher, Neuroscience, Mount Holyoke College (Dr. Gary Gillis)
Do bullfrogs exhibit differences in anticipatory muscle activation when landing in a
terrestrial versus aquatic environment?

2010 Undergraduate Researcher, Computer Science, Mount Holyoke College (Dr. Audrey
Lee-St. John and Dr. Daniel Barry)

2010 REU Fellow, NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates, Department of
Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (Dr.
Chakra Chennubhotla)

2018 Ph.D. in Integrative Biology, The University of Chicago,
Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, Biological Sciences Division
Advisor: Dr. Melina Hale
Dissertation: “Exploring Ontogenetic Relationships Between Form and Function”

2014 Sc.M. in Integrative Biology, The University of Chicago
Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy

2012 B.A. in Neuroscience and Behavior, Mount Holyoke College
Minor in Computer Science, Magna Cum Laude

2020 Morton Cure Paralysis Fund,
Project Title: “Determining the roles for ATF3 within the spinal motor circuit following
spinal cord injury”

2015-2018 GAANN Training Grant, University of Chicago

2013-2014 NSF Moto-IGERT Training Grant, University of Chicago

2011 NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU), University of Pittsburgh

• Katz HR, Fouke KE, McCarthy NA+, Morgan JR (2020) Recovery of Burrowing Behavior after
Spinal Cord Injury in the Larval Sea Lamprey. Biological Bulletin, 239(3), 174-182. doi:
10.1086/711365 (+Undergraduate student author)

• Katz HR*, Menelaou E*, Hale ME. (2020) Morphological and Physiological properties of Rohon-
Beard Neurons Along the Zebrafish Spinal Cord. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 1-17. doi:
10.1002/cne.25033 (*co-first authors)

• Katz HR, Hale ME (2016) A Large-Scale Pattern of Ontogenetic Shape Change in Ray-Finned
Fishes. PLoS ONE; 11(3): e0150841. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0150841

• Hale ME,  Katz HR, Peek MY, Fremont, RT (2016) Neural Circuits that Drive Startle Behavior,
With a Focus on the Mauthner Cells and Spiral Fiber Neurons of Fishes. Journal of
Neurogenetics, 30(2): 89-100. doi:10.1080/01677063.2016.1182526