The University of Maine at Fort Kent biology program will host its first Scientific Speakers Series presentation entitled “Modeling the developmental origins of health and disease” on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at 1 p.m. in Fox Auditorium located on the UMFK campus. The speaker series is free and open to the public.
Dr. Jim Coffman, Ph.D., will share research from his lab, exploring how chronic stress and exposure to environmental chemicals during early development can increase disease risk later in life. His team uses zebrafish as a model organism, as they share the same anatomical and physiological stress response system as humans. As in humans, early-life stress in zebrafish affects the development of the immune and central nervous systems through the same genetic pathways. Dr. Coffman’s research aims to uncover how environmental stressors interact with these genes during development, leading to long-term effects that can persist into adulthood and even across generations.
Beginning with Dr. Coffman’s presentation, and throughout the series, organizers aim to connect students and the community with researchers who can inspire and guide them in shaping their futures.
“By creating these opportunities, we not only help students refine their goals but also bridge the gap between science and communities,” said Samantha Beaulieu, UMFK natural sciences laboratory manager and forestry and environmental studies program assistant. “Representation matters, and by bringing in researchers such as Dr. Coffman, with whom we can relate either through background or research focus, we can make science more accessible and meaningful for everyone.”
Dr. James Coffman is an Associate Professor at Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory and the Director of the Maine IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE). He earned his Ph.D. in zoology from Duke University and a B.A. in biology from Carleton College.
For more information, please contact Samantha Beaulieu, at samantha.beautlieu@maine.edu or 207-834-7868.