Eight faculty members in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, including Genetics, Development and Cell Biology Associate Professor Geetu Tuteja, recently received funded awards for innovative research in their respective academic areas. Tuteja received a LAS Dean's Professorship.

Tuteja works with her lab partners on molecular mechanisms underlying trophoblast innovation, a process that occurs in early placental development and establishes adequate blood flow between mother and fetus. Defects in trophoblast invasion can lead to several disorders, such as preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, and placenta accreta. Identifying cell-type specific enhancers is crucial for understanding the genetic architecture underlying development and disease.

The LAS Dean’s Professorship was established through the Transforming Liberal Arts and Sciences endowment, which provides student scholarships, supports high-impact learning experiences, and recognizes outstanding faculty.