Diversity in Life Sciences

Dr. Catera Wilder is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences at the University of California San Francisco and a Chan Zuckerberg Biohub San Francisco Investigator. As a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow and Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellow, she received her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering (2016) studying matrix remodeling in breast cancer under the direction of Manu Platt. As a UCLA Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow in the lab of Alexander Hoffmann (2016-2022), she focused on understanding innate immune and inflammatory responses by studying ISGF3 transcription factor dynamic regulation using a systems biology approach. Her work investigating the interferon signaling and transcriptional response has uncovered stimulus specific regulation of the interferon host defense system that is determined by coordinated stimulus-contingent positive feedback loops. The overall goal of her research group is to uncover mechanisms causing immune-related pathogenesis during respiratory illnesses and to use this knowledge to engineer improved cell based anti-viral and cancer therapies. To accomplish this, her group uses iterative systems biology approaches with experimental data and predictive, quantitative models to determine the spatial and temporal mechanisms that control interferon signaling, gene expression dynamics, and inflammation. She is also passionate about mentoring trainees and partnering with local high schools to improve STEM access to historically under-resourced areas. She is a recipient of the Initiating and Leading Efforts in Diversity and Equity Award from UCLA Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biosciences due to her involvement in the initiation and execution of the outreach organization, QBio-EDGE. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and trying tasty cuisines from various cultures.