UMFK to host scientific speaker Dr. Jim Coffman, Ph.D.

The University of Maine atFort Kent biology program will host its first Scientific Speakers Series presentationentitled “Modeling the developmental origins of health and disease” onWednesday, April 2, 2025, at 1 p.m. in Fox Auditorium located on the UMFKcampus. The speaker series is free and open to the public.

Dr. Jim Coffman, Ph.D., willshare research from his lab, exploring how chronic stress and exposure toenvironmental chemicals during early development can increase disease risklater in life. His team uses zebrafish as a model organism, as they share thesame anatomical and physiological stress response system as humans. As inhumans, early-life stress in zebrafish affects the development of the immuneand central nervous systems through the same genetic pathways. Dr. Coffman’sresearch aims to uncover how environmental stressors interact with these genesduring development, leading to long-term effects that can persist intoadulthood and even across generations.

Beginning with Dr. Coffman’spresentation, and throughout the series, organizers aim to connect students andthe community with researchers who can inspire and guide them in shaping theirfutures.

Dr. James Coffman is anAssociate Professor at Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory and theDirector of the Maine IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE).He earned his Ph.D. in zoology from Duke University and a B.A. in biology fromCarleton College. 

For more information, pleasecontact Samantha Beaulieu, at samantha.beautlieu@maine.edu or
207-834-7868.