Quinnipiac University
Caitlin D Hanlon

Associate Professor of Biology

Dr. Caitlin Hanlon joined Quinnipiac University in Fall 2018 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology. Over the past two years, she has taught Human Genetics (BIO382/L), Genetics (BIO282/L), Science and Society (BIO106), and a CAS Capstone (CAS420; “Monsters, Mutants, and Meaning”). In each of these courses, Dr. Hanlon strives to interweave the facts of basic science with humanistic insight of how genetic issues present in our day-to-day lives.

Dr. Hanlon's research focuses on the characterization of Drosophila (fruit fly) G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) during embryonic development. GPCRs are one of the largest and most widely expressed protein families, found in all manners of life from bacteria to humans. Despite GPCR's prominence throughout biology, they have been surprisingly understudied during Drosophila development. Dr. Hanlon's research allow students to explore questions relating to genetics, cell biology, and developmental biology. More recently, she has leveraged her research training to better understand how the Blacklegged tick is able to transmit disease.

Dr. Hanlon currently serves as the faculty liaison to the Natural Sciences Living and Learning Community. She is also a member of the Student Affairs committee and the QUWAC Steering Committee.

Experience

Quinnipiac University

Assistant Professor of Biology

Hamden, CT

2018 - Present

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Post doctoral fellow

Baltimore, MD

2015 - 2018

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Graduate student

Baltimore, MD

2007 - 2015

Selected Publications

Invited Speaker

Migration mystery: Identifying the ligand for an orphan GPCR

Caitlin Hanlon

Sigma Xi Quinnipiac Chapter, Hamden, CT, Quinnipiac University (2023)

Conference Presentation

LacApp: A Platform to Help Students Master Gene Regulation Through Retrieval Practice

Tom Torello, Paul Wolujewicz, and Caitlin Hanlon

64th Annual Drosophila Conference, Chicago, Genetics Society of America (2023)

Peer Reviewed Journal

Design and initial user experience of a computer-based decision-support tool to improve safety of chemotherapy delivery

Hanlon C, Goldberg H, Liang A, Spjut A, and Cooper S.

Health and Technology 1-5 May 25 (2023)

Conference Presentation

Characterization of adhesion and secretin GPCRs in the salivary glands and germ cells during Drosophila embryogenesis

Sean Riccard and Caitlin Hanlon

63rd Annual Drosophila Conference, San Diego, Genetics Society of America (2022)

Conference Presentation

Salivary Gland and Germ Cell Migration With Single Gene Knock-Down in Drosophila Melanogaster Embryos

Olivia Dempson, Scott Korman, and Caitlin Hanlon

Spring 2022 Biology Poster Session, Hamden, CT, Quinnipiac University (2022)

Peer Reviewed Journal

Hedgehog signaling and Tre1 regulate actin dynamics through PI(4,5)P2 to direct migration of Drosophila embryonic germ cells.

Kim JH, Hanlon CD, Vohra S, Devreotes PN, Andrew DJ.

34(9) Cell Reports Mar (2021)

Peer Reviewed Journal

Recognizing reflection: Computer-assisted analysis of first-year medical students’ reflective writing

Hanlon C, Frosch E, Gibson A, Buckingham-Shum S, Shochet R, and Goldberg H.

Medical Science Educator 1-8 (2020)

Peer Reviewed Journal

Development and Validation of a Capacity for Wonder Scale for Use in Educational Settings

Geller G, Steinman C, Caldwell M, Goldberg H, Hanlon C, Wonnell T, and Merritt MW

Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment (2020)

Peer Reviewed Journal

When I say… the knowledge paradox: the more I know, the less I can clearly explain.

Goldberg H, and Hanlon C.

Medical Education (2019)