Maureen Bjerke

I received my bachelor’s degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from CU Boulder, followed by a Ph.D. in Cell Biology from the University of Virginia, and then a return to Boulder as a researcher and teacher. I have worked and published in several different fields within cell biology and across various model organisms including the formation of specialized cells within the mouse gastrointestinal system, mechanical signaling amongst collectively migrating cells in early frog embryos, and using human induced pluripotent stem-cell (hiPSC)-derived muscle cells to study the cellular basis of certain cardiac and skeletal muscle disorders. Although these seem like disparate fields, they all share a common theme around how cells interact with one another through chemical and mechanical signaling to perform seemingly magical feats in the organism. The more I have learned about biology, the more I feel I know nothing at all, relative to the real complexity of life! I am always reading and thinking about new questions about biology and the world in general, looking for the next case study to present in class, or alternate perspectives on what we thought was established knowledge. I am passionate about applying research-based teaching and learning strategies in my classes and testing out new ideas for helping students find and keep their joy in learning. When not in the classroom, I can likely be found curled up with my nose in a book, adding to my list of every bird species I’ve ever seen, or outside adventuring with my husband, kids, and dogs.