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 (fall 26 office hours)
Monday
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Wednesday
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Friday
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
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. 

Education
Cell Biology
Duke University
Biology
Gettysburg College
Areas of Expertise

Developmental Biology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology

In my lab, we use zebrafish as a model system to study embryonic development and planarian flatworms to study tissue regeneration.

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, 2026

  • Microplastic Toxicity on Planarian Regeneration (Talk / poster). High School students:  Aisha Etemi (Waterbury Arts Magnet School) and Yumna Hashim(Berlin High School). Central student mentor: Alani Adams. 2026
  • Impacts of Acetaminophen on Planarian Regeneration. (Talk / poster). High School students:  Zanib Chaudhary (Academy of International Studies) and Robyn Daggarty (Connecticut River Academy).  Central student mentor: Terrance Gallishaw. 2026
  • 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) Central student mentor: Amoy King. 2025

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

  • Assessing neurotoxic effects of nanoplastics in planarian flatworms. (2026)
  • Assessing cardiac function in zebrafish embryos exposed to nanoplastics. (2024)
Courses Taught

BMS 102 Introduction to Biomolecular Science (Fall/Spring)

BMS 103 Introduction to Biomolecular Science Laboratory

BMS 201 Principles of Cell and Molecular Biology (Spring)

BMS 362 Developmental Biology (Spring)

BMS 363 Developmental Biology Laboratory (Spring)

BMS 390 Independent Research in Biomolecular Science (Fall/Spring)

BMS 421 Experimental Developmental Biology (Fall 26)

BMS 490 Topics in Biomolecular Sciences 

BMS 462: Topics in Developmental Biology (Fall 26)

BMS 491 Advanced Independent Research in Biomolecular Science

BMS 501 Fundamentals of Biomolecular Science (Fall)

BMS 521: Advanced Experimental Developmental Biology (Fall 26)

BMS 540 Advanced Topics in Biomolecular Science 

BMS 562: Advanced Topics in Developmental Biology (Fall 26)