Betsy Dobbs-McAuliffe Directory Profile

Dobbs-McAuliffe lab page

Professor

Biomolecular Sciences

Chair

Institutional Animal Care and Use Council

Member

Curriculum Committee

Contact

(860) 832-2664

dobbs-mcauliffe@ccsu.edu

Office

Nicolaus Copernicus Hall

357, 313

Or by appointment

Biography

I am trained as a cell biologist with a particular focus on developmental biology. I teach developmental biology courses at the undergraduate (300) and masters (500) level, in addition to 100 and 200 level courses in cell and molecular biology. In my lab, we use zebrafish as a model system to study embryonic development and planarian flatworms to study tissue regeneration.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy

PhD

Cell Biology

Duke University

Bachelor of Science (BS)

Biology

Gettysburg College

Areas of Expertise

Developmental Biology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology

Publications, Research & Presentations

Recent presentations, student authors in bold

University Research and Creative Activity Day, Central Connecticut State University, May 2026

Subacute Polystyrene Particle Exposure Impairs Regeneration in Planaria, Lin Vitarbo and Muaz Abdulla
Toxicological Impact of Polystyrene Microplastics on Dugesia japonica, Amoy King
Effects of Acetaminophen Exposure on Regenerative Growth in Planarian Worms, Alani Adams and Isabelle Thomas

Aetna Health Professions Partnership Initiative, High School Student Research Apprentice Program, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, 2025

Testing Planaria as a Model System for Acetaminophen (APAP) Toxicity (Talk / poster) High School students: Nadia Nasiri (Wolcott HIgh School), Jada Wilson (Hartford Public High School) CCSU student mentor: Amoy King

Master's Thesis, May 2025

Nanoplastic-Induced Oxidative Stress and Neuroimmune Disruption in Early Development: Protective Role of N-Acetylcysteine. Katherine R. Lewkowicz.

Awards & Grants

Recent Grants:

CSU University Research Grant