Neural Stem Cells and Adult Neurogenesis

Arie Mobley became interested in adult neurogenesis during her postdoctoral training at Yale University. Her research on migrating neuroblasts under normal aging conditions led to further interest in adult neurogenesis in disease states. As Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at Western New England University (WNEU) she designed an undergraduate course on stem cells and adult neurogenesis. In the search for lecture material the lack of textbook titles appropriate for undergraduates was an obstacle to providing the students with didactic information. Class discussions revealed how little familiarity the students had on these topics. Thus an idea was born with the result being the textbook, Stem Cells and Adult Neurogenesis. Her combined experiences in the lab and classroom gave her a unique perspective on what undergraduates needed to learn about stem cells and neurogenesis, and the level of information required. Dr. Mobley received her Ph.D. at the University of Utah, Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program. Her thesis project examined the olfactory sensory neurons of the cephalopod, Lolliguncula brevis. In her postdoctoral lab at Yale University she continued to study the olfactory system focusing on activity dependent mechanisms of development. Her research has been published in journals such as J. Neurosci., J. Comp. Neurol., Trends in Neurosci., Neurobiol. Aging and PNAS. Dr. Mobley has received several grants including the Ruth Kirstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) at the graduate level under Dr. Mary T. Lucero and at the postdoctoral level under Dr. Charles Greer. She went on to obtain an NIH Small Grant Program (R03) award that was instrumental in beginning her independent research program at WNEU.