Awarded in 2012 (William and Lynda Steere Stanford Interdisciplinary Graduate Fellow) and 2009 (Bio-X Bowes Fellow)
Home Department: Bioengineering
Faculty Advisors: Scott Delp (Bioengineering, Mechanical Engineering), Karl Deisseroth (Bioengineering, Psychiatry), and Ada Poon (Electrical Engineering)

Research Title: Optogenetic control of neurons beyond the brain: Modulating pain and motor function

Research Description: Kate is developing methods to control muscle and pain by using optical stimulation to specifically activate and inhibit motor and pain neurons. This project combines the fields of electrical engineering, material science, neuroscience, and molecular biology. Research in this field will improve the tools available to study the complex fields of motor control and pain and may someday improve the available therapies for people with paralysis, movement disorders, and intractable pain conditions.

WHERE IS SHE NOW?

Kate is the founder of Goldenrod Funding. Goldenrod is a scientific advisory firm dedicated to helping for-profit health innovators secure non-dilutive capital through the NIH’s multimillion-dollar SBIR grant pipeline.