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. Her doctorial work focused on how infectious diseases evade the human immune system. She is a former Martin Marietta-Burroughs Wellcome and Department of Energy Research Fellow and conducted research at Woods Hole Biological Laboratory and Oakridge National Laboratory. In 2005 she returned to her native Colorado and joined the Denver Museum of Nature & Science after working for six years in Washington DC, at the National Academy of Sciences where she was the managing editor of the multidisciplinary journal PNAS.
Dr. Coughlin is the curator and science advisor for the museum’s newest permanent exhibit Expedition Health. Her National Institutes of Health (NIH) sponsored museum research enrolls museum visitors in an international study looking at the genetic influences of a person’s ability to taste and smell. As Vice President at the museum she collaborates with local organizations to promote a culture of scientifically informed citizens and oversees the adult programs.
When not at the Museum she enjoys running, swimming, rollerblading, all snow sports, glass painting, and drinking a good cup of coffee while reading a good book.
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.
