Cassandra Osborne

How did you discover Western?

I discovered Western when I was living in Colorado Springs and touring the state. I am from the East Coast, so Colorado was a whole new and beautiful world. I attended a small, liberal arts college in northwestern Pennsylvania, and Western reminded me a lot of my alma mater in a very positive way.

What are some of the highlights of your career?

The best highlight of my scientific career was discovering that an endocrine disrupting compound, nonylphenol, inhibits the ability of neurons to respond appropriately to growth factors and dissecting and elucidating the mechanism of this inhibition, which involves various signal transduction cascades. The most notable highlight of my professional career as a professor is mentoring undergraduates in my research lab and watching them become successful scientists.

What most excites you about your field?

The field of endocrine disruption is constantly changing, and I find the challenge of trying to understand how these compounds affect vertebrate development, specifically neuronal development, to be extremely exciting.

What is your favorite thing about the Gunnison Valley?

The Gunnison Valley is filled with a wonderful group of closely knit individuals, located in a stunningly beautiful location.