Associate Professor
Department of Genetics, Life Sciences Communication and Arts Institute
Ahna Skop, an Associate Professor in the Department of Genetics has been at UW–Madison since 2004. Her lab seeks to understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie cell polarity and cell division during embryonic development using the nematode, C. elegans as a model system. Failures in asymmetric cell division often lead to birth defects, age-related diseases and cancer. Understanding how cells divide asymmetrically is highly dependent on in vivo microscopy and large amounts of visual data, which dovetails perfectly with one of her other passions, art. The combination of scientist and artist inspires her to think differently and maintain an open mind. In 2008, she was awarded an honorary doctorate of science from the College of St. Benedicts and was named a Remarkable Women in Science from the AAAS. Her science and art have been featured by Apple and Science. Ahna, who is part Cherokee,works actively to mentor underrepresented high school and college students; encouraging them to pursue scientific careers.