{"id":11,"date":"2019-08-27T13:18:00","date_gmt":"2019-08-27T13:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research.butler.edu\/jennifer-kowalski-lab\/?page_id=11"},"modified":"2026-04-03T19:37:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T19:37:38","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/research.butler.edu\/jennifer-kowalski-lab\/","title":{"rendered":"Jennifer R. Kowalski, Ph.D."},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:auto 25%\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p style=\"margin-top:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">Professor<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Department of Biological Sciences<br>Butler University<br>4600 Sunset Avenue<br>Indianapolis, IN 46208<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Office: Gallahue Hall 213<br>Research Lab: Gallahue Hall 210<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Phone:&nbsp;<a href=\"tel:3179408879\">(317)940-8879<\/a><br>FAX: (317)940-9519<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3294\" height=\"4941\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.butler.edu\/research\/sites\/3\/2019\/08\/02143552\/jrkowals.jpeg\" alt=\"Dr. Jennifer Kowalski\" class=\"wp-image-46 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.butler.edu\/research\/sites\/3\/2019\/08\/02143552\/jrkowals.jpeg 3294w, https:\/\/cdn.butler.edu\/research\/sites\/3\/2019\/08\/02143552\/jrkowals-200x300.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/cdn.butler.edu\/research\/sites\/3\/2019\/08\/02143552\/jrkowals-768x1152.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.butler.edu\/research\/sites\/3\/2019\/08\/02143552\/jrkowals-683x1024.jpeg 683w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3294px) 100vw, 3294px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--1\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.butler.edu\/research\/sites\/3\/2024\/12\/02143550\/JKowalski-CVDecember2024.pdf\" style=\"border-radius:5px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">Download CV&nbsp;<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Education &amp; Training<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Postdoctoral training, Tufts University School of Medicine, Physiology, 2006-2009<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ph.D., Harvard University, Cell &amp; Developmental Biology, 2006<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>B.S., University of Notre Dame, Biology, 2000<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Courses<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>BI220: Cell &amp; Molecular Biology Fundamentals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>BI370: Basics of Microscopy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>BI460\/NS460: Cell &amp; Molecular Neurobiology<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>BI480: Stem Cells Capstone<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>BI411: Principles of Physiology<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>NS210: Multi-disciplinary approaches to Neuroscience<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SW275: Mental Illness: Biological, Psychological, and Sociological Perspectives<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>NW206-BI Life, Death, &amp; Immortality<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Research Interests<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Research in the Kowalski lab focuses on understanding the molecular processes that control the ability of neurons to communicate with one another at specialized cellular junctions called synapses (synaptic transmission). The precise regulation of synaptic protein abundance and function impacts the strength of synaptic transmission, which changes during processes such as learning and memory. We utilize the roundworm&nbsp;<em>C. elegans<\/em>&nbsp;as a model system in which to identify and characterize intra- and intercellular regulators of synaptic transmission.&nbsp; To do this, we employ a combination of genetic, biochemical, cell biological, and behavioral approaches. Since there is significant conservation of neuronal proteins between&nbsp;<em>C. elegans<\/em>&nbsp;and humans, these studies may also provide insight into how synaptic transmission is controlled in the human nervous system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Click&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/research.butler.edu\/jennifer-kowalski-lab\/research\/\"><strong><u>here<\/u><\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;to read more about research in the Kowalski lab, including information on past and current students and an answer to the question \u201cWhy study neurobiology in microscopic worms?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are interested in doing research related to central questions in neuronal cell biology,&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/research.butler.edu\/jennifer-kowalski-lab\/contact\/\"><u>contact Dr. Kowalski<\/u><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Professor Department of Biological SciencesButler University4600 Sunset AvenueIndianapolis, IN 46208 Office: Gallahue Hall 213Research Lab: Gallahue Hall 210 Phone:&nbsp;(317)940-8879FAX: (317)940-9519 Education &amp; Training Courses Research Interests Research in the Kowalski lab focuses on understanding the molecular processes that control the ability of neurons to communicate with one another at specialized cellular junctions called synapses (synaptic [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-11","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Jennifer R. 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