Katie Ranard
Hi there! My name is Katie, and I’m a postdoctoral fellow in the Appel lab. Merging my passions for health, food, and biochemistry, I pursued BS and PhD degrees in Nutritional Sciences at Iowa State University and University of Illinois, respectively. Under the mentorship of Dr. John Erdman for my PhD, I explored the role of vitamin E in the murine central nervous system. My work answered critical questions about our vitamin E requirements, yet it only scratched the surface of what we’ll need to understand nutrition’s complex role in the brain. This realization inspired my current research question: How does maternal nutrition contribute to the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms guiding neurodevelopment? In the Appel lab, my project focuses on docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a dietary omega-3 fatty acid that is essential for brain maturation. By harnessing the zebrafish model system and powerful genetic & imaging tools, I’m investigating how DHA status tunes neuroimmune signaling and microglia behaviors during neurodevelopment.
Throughout my training, I’ve been afforded many opportunities to define and cultivate my own research projects. This creative latitude fuels my intellectual curiosities and keeps me excited about the scientific discoveries that are just around the corner. Following my postdoc, I plan to open my own lab and continue answering key questions at the intersection of nutrition and neurodevelopment.
When I’m not in the lab, you can catch me weightlifting, running with comedy podcasts in my ears, backpacking in the wild, painting funky designs on my shoes, and watching classic films. I’m also getting my toes wet in the world of triathlon. Despite being an adult-onset swimmer & cyclist, I’m enjoying the training challenge!
Hi there! My name is Katie, and I’m a postdoctoral fellow in the Appel lab. Merging my passions for health, food, and biochemistry, I pursued BS and PhD degrees in Nutritional Sciences at Iowa State University and University of Illinois, respectively. Under the mentorship of Dr. John Erdman for my PhD, I explored the role of vitamin E in the murine central nervous system. My work answered critical questions about our vitamin E requirements, yet it only scratched the surface of what we’ll need to understand nutrition’s complex role in the brain. This realization inspired my current research question: How does maternal nutrition contribute to the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms guiding neurodevelopment? In the Appel lab, my project focuses on docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a dietary omega-3 fatty acid that is essential for brain maturation. By harnessing the zebrafish model system and powerful genetic & imaging tools, I’m investigating how DHA status tunes neuroimmune signaling and microglia behaviors during neurodevelopment.
Throughout my training, I’ve been afforded many opportunities to define and cultivate my own research projects. This creative latitude fuels my intellectual curiosities and keeps me excited about the scientific discoveries that are just around the corner. Following my postdoc, I plan to open my own lab and continue answering key questions at the intersection of nutrition and neurodevelopment.
When I’m not in the lab, you can catch me weightlifting, running with comedy podcasts in my ears, backpacking in the wild, painting funky designs on my shoes, and watching classic films. I’m also getting my toes wet in the world of triathlon. Despite being an adult-onset swimmer & cyclist, I’m enjoying the training challenge!