Natalie Powers, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Associate

Researching the role of the histone methyltransferase PRDM9 in allocation and repair of meiotic double-strand breaks, which are necessary for the essential process of genetic recombination.

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About Natalie Powers, Ph.D.

I am mainly interested in how regulatory and epigenetic factors can influence the inheritance and expression of heritable traits, especially complex traits. My Ph.D. work primarily used human genetic methods, and I joined The Jackson Laboratory to expand my expertise with mice. My current research involves the role of the histone methyltransferase PRDM9 in allocation and repair of meiotic double-strand breaks, which are necessary for the essential process of genetic recombination. In mammals, PRDM9 is responsible for both initiating and localizing the sites of recombination within the genome. I have several ongoing projects in the lab, all of which involve the DNA-binding properties of PRDM9 in vivo, and the roles of PRDM9-dependent histone modifications in recombination.

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Grants, honors and accomplishments

2013 C.W. Cotterman Award, American Society of Human Genetics; Boston, MA

2005-2007 MBRS-RISE Scholarship, California State University, Fresno; Fresno, CA

2003 Lilaine D. Wells Scholarship, California State University, Fresno; Fresno, CA

2003 Biology Department Award, Antelope Valley College; Lancaster, CA

2001 International Baccalaureate Diploma, Quartz Hill High School; Quartz Hill, CA

2001 Valedictorian, Quartz Hill High School; Quartz Hill, CA

Research HighlightDecember 11, 2018
The unexpected advantages of outbred mice in research
Recently developed outbred mouse populations, such as the diversity outbred (DO) mice at The Jackson Laboratory (JAX), have created research options that parallel or even exceed human genetic diversity. Research with DO mice offers a full range of genetic diversity, and therefore more generalizability of responses across populations.
Research HighlightNovember 08, 2018
Working with uncertainty in cell populations
JAX researchers have developed a new computational algorithm that is capable of modeling the effects of both stochastic gene expression and cell-to-cell variability in a cell population.
Tech CornerOctober 11, 2018
Precision medicine and making sense of data
JAX professor calls for concerted effort to align data across patients and systems with comparable and consistent formats and contextual meaning.
Press ReleaseOctober 09, 2018
Advancing therapeutic gene editing
NIH awards $3.5M to JAX under multi-institution Somatic Cell Genome Editing program.

Blog PostDecember 11, 2018
Nesting dolls and Narnia
If movies were true to real life, matryoshka dolls would provide a good analogy for genomics research.
Press ReleaseOctober 24, 2018
Data provides new hope for pediatric brain tumor patients
Using computer models, researchers have identified a potential new therapy that would reduce the long-term side effects of radiation therapy in pediatric brain cancer patients.
Search MagazineOctober 09, 2018
Of mighty mice and men
Pioneering scientist Se-Jin Lee, a leader in the study of muscle development, moves his groundbreaking research program to JAX.
Press ReleaseOctober 02, 2018
Addiction: The microbiome link
The National Institute on Drug Abuse has made a $4M grant to JAX scientists to explore the roles of the microbiome and genetics in substance use disorders.