Rate My Professor Emily Shifley

Emily Shifley, Ph.D., is Assistant Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Northern Kentucky University. As a developmental biologist, she focuses on elucidating the genetic signals that guide organ development in early vertebrate embryos, employing the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, as her primary model organism. Her research examines how embryonic tissues differentiate and undergo morphogenesis to form organs such as the pharynx, lungs, and liver, with particular emphasis on pathways like FGF signaling and Fringe proteins. This work contributes to insights into congenital birth defects and potential applications in stem cell differentiation for therapeutics.

Shifley earned her Ph.D. from Ohio University. Her peer-reviewed publications include 'Prolonged FGF signaling is necessary for lung and liver induction in Xenopus' (Developmental Biology, 2012), 'Lunatic fringe protein processing by proprotein convertases is required for the proper morphogenetic activity of the protein' (Molecular Biology Reports, 2008), 'Manic fringe is not required for embryonic development, and fringe family members do not exhibit redundant functions in the axial skeleton, limbs, or hindbrain and tail development' (PLoS ONE, 2009), and 'Disruption of somitogenesis by a novel dominant allele of Mesp2 that recapitulates a human axial skeletal dysplasia' (Development, 2016). She has produced 26 research works with 385 citations. Shifley has received multiple grants from the Kentucky IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (KY INBRE/KBRIN), including awards for investigating FGF signaling in pharyngeal development across several years, as well as NKU Summer Fellowships, Faculty Development Awards, and CINSAM Awards. She mentors undergraduate students in her lab through programs like UR-STEM and presents at conferences including the Kentucky Academy of Science annual meetings and Society for Developmental Biology regional meetings. Shifley has served as Chair of the NKU Faculty Benefits Committee and contributes to departmental leadership.