Katja Brose facts for kids

Katja Brose is an American neuroscientist. This means she is a scientist who studies the brain and nervous system. She works at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI). At CZI, she helps lead projects that research neurodegenerative diseases. These are diseases that affect the brain and nerves, like Alzheimer's.

Katja Brose's Journey in Science

Katja Brose started her higher education at Brown University. In 1990, she earned two degrees. She studied Biology, which is the study of living things. She also studied European history. During her time there, she also learned about Evolutionary biology and Ecology.

Early Research Experience

After college, Katja worked as a technician. She spent about five years in a molecular biology lab at MIT. This lab studied the tiny parts inside living cells.

Becoming a Doctor of Science

From 1994 to 2000, Katja was a student at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She was working towards her PhD. Her research focused on how nerves grow and find their way in the developing spinal cord. This process is called "axon guidance." She earned her PhD in Biochemistry in 2000.

Discovering Nerve Pathways

For her PhD, Katja worked with Dr. Marc Tessier-Lavigne. They studied how axons, which are parts of nerve cells, know where to go. She also worked with Dr. Corey Goodman's lab. Their research helped find important molecules called Robo and Slit. These molecules act like signals, guiding nerves to the right places.

Working at Neuron Journal

Towards the end of her studies, Katja applied for a job. She wanted to work at a science magazine called Neuron. She was hired and joined the editorial team at Cell Press. She worked there for 17 years. From 2004 to 2017, she was the editor-in-chief of Neuron. This meant she was in charge of the entire magazine.