Aaron Steiner

Faculty Bio

I grew up in Massachusetts and attended Brandeis University as a Biology major, the University of Pennsylvania for my doctorate, and Rockefeller University for postdoctoral training before joining Pace in 2014.

PhD, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 2006
Cell and Molecular Biology

BS, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, 2000
Biology

Research Interest

My research focuses on the development and regeneration of sensory systems, with emphasis on sensory hair cells. These cells transduce mechanical forces in the inner ear into electrical signals that can be received and interpreted by the brain, and are responsible for our senses of hearing and balance. Hair cells are delicate and degrade with age, and can be damaged or destroyed by loud noises and certain drug treatment regimens. In humans and other mammals these cells are not naturally regenerated, leading to hearing loss. Fishes and other non-mammalian vertebrates, however, naturally regenerate hair cells throughout life. Our lab uses the zebrafish as a model system to understand the cellular and molecular processes that enable hair-cell regeneration in such animals, with the goal of identifying new routes to inducing hair-cell recovery in the human ear. We utilize the tools of genetics and advanced microscopy to reveal and characterize molecular pathways that regulate regeneration.

Past Courses

BIO 101: General Biology I
BIO 102: General Biology II
BIO 123: Biology & Contemporary Society
BIO 231: Genetics
BIO 292: Bio Lbrtry Rsrch Trng
BIO 321: Developmental Biology
BIO 325: Neurobiology
BIO 335: Molecular & Cellular Biology
BIO 395: Independent Study in Biology
BIO 396: Guided Study in Biology
BIO 399: Genomics
BIO 480: Research in Biology
BIO 481: Research in Biology II
BIO 490: Intro to Rsrch in Biolgcl Sci
BIO 491: Internship in Biology
BIO 493: Major Field Test in Biology
BMB 710: Research I
BMB 711: Research II
CHE 480: Research in Chemistry

Publications

Degradation kinetics of disulfide cross-linked microgels: Real-time monitoring by confocal microscopy
Mercer, I. G., Italiano, A. N., Gazaryan, I. G., Steiner, A. B. & Kazakov, S. V. (2023). Gels. Vol 9 , pages 782 (17 pages). https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/9/10/782
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Confocal Microscope-Based Laser Ablation and Regeneration Assay in Zebrafish Interneuromast Cells
Volpe, B. A., Fotino, T. H. & Steiner, A. B. (2020). Journal of Visualized Experiments. (Issue 159) https://doi.org/10.3791/60966

Expression of the eight GABAA receptor α subunits in the developing zebrafish central nervous system
Monesson-Olson, B., McClain, J. J., Case, A. E., Dorman, H. E., Turkewitz, D. R., Steiner, A. B. & Downes, G. B. (2018). PLOS ONE. Vol 13 (Issue 4) , pages e0196083. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0196083

Dynamic gene expression by putative hair-cell progenitors during regeneration in the zebrafish lateral line
Steiner, A. B., Kim, T., Cabot, V. & Hudspeth, A. (2014). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Vol 111 (Issue 14) , pages E1393–E1401. https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1318692111
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Professional Memberships

• Society for Developmental Biology