Dr. Coughlin holds a bachelor of arts from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, and a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Iowa Howard Hughes Medical Institute. In 2005 she returned to her native Colorado and joined the Museum after working for five years at the National Academy of Sciences where she was the managing editor of the multidisciplinary journal PNAS. While in Washington, she also worked on science policy reports related to her research on infectious diseases.
Specifically, Dr. Coughlin studies how infectious diseases escape the human immune system and characterizes the genomic and physiological interplay between the parasitic pathogen and its human host. In addition to her doctorial work on the subject, she has conducted research at Oakridge National Laboratory and the Woods Hole Biological Laboratory.
Dr. Coughlin is the curator and science advisor to the Museum’s initiative to build the new permanent health sciences exhibit Expedition Health and programs. She collaborates with local organizations to promote a culture of scientifically informed citizens and oversees the adult programs and courses at the Museum.
Recent Publications
Coughlin, B.C. (2001) Editorial: Searching for an alien haven in the heavens. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 98: 796.
Grandgenett, P.M., Coughlin B.C., Kirchhoff, L.V., Donelson, J.E. (2000) Differential expression of GP63 genes in Trypanosoma cruzi. Mol Biochem Parasitol. 110 (2): 409-15.
Goodman, C.S., Coughlin, B.C. (2000) Editorial: The evolution of evo-devo biology. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 97: 4424.
Coughlin, B.C., Teixeira, S.M., Kirchhoff, L.V., Donelson, J.E. (2000) Amastin mRNA abundance in Trypanosoma cruzi is controlled by a 3'-untranslated region position-dependent cis-element and an untranslated region-binding protein. J Biol Chem. 21; 275 (16): 12051-60.
Hill, K.L. and Coughlin, B.C. (1999) Gene rearrangement in eukaryotic organisms. The Encyclopedia of Genetics Academic Press: New York, NY.
