Theanne Griffith facts for kids

Theanne Griffith is an American neuroscientist and a popular author of children's books. She works as a professor at the University of California, Davis. There, she teaches about how our bodies work at a tiny, cell level.

Early Life and Education

Theanne Griffith was born in Pennsylvania in 1986. Both of her parents were university professors. She grew up in Alexandria, Virginia.

College Years

In 2008, Theanne Griffith graduated from Smith College. She studied neuroscience, which is the study of the brain and nervous system. She also studied Spanish. During her time at Smith, she did scientific research every year.

Her early research looked at how certain brain receptors, called GABA receptors, react to things like menthol and some medicines. She used special tools to measure tiny electrical signals in cells.

Griffith also studied abroad in Chile at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. There, she learned about different ways to study cells, including using western blots and special mouse models. She was even invited back to Chile for more research after she graduated.

Graduate Studies

After her time in Chile, Griffith came back to the United States. She earned her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Northwestern University. Her research focused on measuring the tiny electrical currents in brain cells. She studied how different parts of cells work together.

Career and Discoveries

After getting her Ph.D., Dr. Griffith continued her research at Columbia University. She studied mechanosensation, which is how our bodies feel touch and send those feelings to the brain.

Understanding Sensations

Dr. Griffith's research at Columbia looked at how certain channels in our cells affect nerve signals. She found that some nerve cells, especially those sensitive to menthol, are more easily excited. This means they can send signals more strongly. This discovery helps explain why menthol has been used for a long time to help with pain and to cool down fevers. It shows how menthol affects our nerves.

Research at UC Davis

In 2020, Dr. Griffith became a professor at the University of California, Davis. Her lab there studies thermosensation, which is how our bodies sense temperature. They want to understand which tiny channels in our cells are important for feeling hot and cold. This research can help us understand health problems related to temperature sensing.

Her lab uses many different methods, including measuring electrical signals in cells and studying the genes of mice. She found that a specific channel, called Nav1.1, is very important for how excited cells get. This suggests it might play a big role in how we feel cold.

Awards and Recognition

Dr. Griffith has received many awards for her important work. These include:

• 2024: Society for Neuroscience Science Educator Award
• 2024: Sloan Research Fellowship
• 2020: University of California, Davis CAMPOS Faculty Scholars
• 2018: Columbia University First Prize Poster Presentation Award Recipient
• 2016: Biophysical Society Inclusion and Diversity Travel Award
• 2013: Harvard Medical School First Prize Poster Presentation Award Recipient

Authoring Books for Kids

Besides her scientific research, Dr. Griffith is also a successful children's book author. She writes books that make science fun and easy to understand for young readers.

The Magnificent Makers Series

Dr. Griffith wrote The Magnificent Makers, a series of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) books. These books are for children aged 7–10. She started writing the series while she was on maternity leave. The series has been nominated for several awards.

The series includes nine books, such as How to Test a Friendship, Brain Trouble, and Race Through Space. These books often include fun activities and experiments that kids can do at home. Reviewers have said the books are great for kids who want an adventure with a fun science theme.

Ada Twist, Scientist Series

Dr. Griffith also helped write the Ada Twist, Scientist: The Why Files series. This is a non-fiction series that follows a young Black girl scientist. It is a companion to the popular Netflix show, Ada Twist, Scientist. Both the show and the books are based on an original picture book.

The Ada Twist, Scientist: The Why Files series includes books like Exploring Flight, All About Plants!, and The Science of Baking. Dr. Griffith's work has also been featured in news outlets like NPR and Today.

Published Works

• The Magnificent Makers: How to Test a Friendship, Random House, 2020. ISBN: 9780593122983
• The Magnificent Makers: Brain Trouble, Random House, 2020. ISBN: 9780593123010
• The Magnificent Makers: Riding Sound Waves, Random House, 2020. ISBN: 9780593123102
• The Magnificent Makers: The Great Germ Hunt, Random House, 2021. ISBN: 9780593379608
• Ada Twist, Scientist: The Why Files: Exploring Flight, Amulet Books, 2021. ASIN B09BFB1HJ6
• The Magnificent Makers: Race Through Space, Random House, 2022. ISBN: 9780593379639
• Ada Twist, Scientist: All About Plants, Amulet Books, 2022. ASIN B09M5XHM29
• Ada Twist, Scientist: The Science of Baking, Amulet Books, 2022. ASIN B09S6H49Q4 B09S6H49Q4
• The Magnificent Makers: Storm Chasers, Random House, 2022. ISBN: 9780593563076