August 25, 2025

We are thrilled that Eric's paper on the truncate fin phenotype has been published in PLoS Biology! We showed that a pulse of Shh activity during late embryonic development reprograms the shape that the caudal fin will grow into. We're very excited about this work!

Surette E, Donahue J, Soto Martinez C, Robinson S, McKenna D, Fitzgerald B, Backus K, Karlstrom RO, Cumplido N, McMenamin SK. 2025. Caudal fin shape imprinted during late zebrafish embryogenesis is re-patterned by sonic hedgehog. PLoS Biology. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3003336 

August 10, 2025

Tremendous congratulations to Nicolas Cumplido, who has been selected as a 2025 Pew Foundation Latin American Fellow! This competitive fellowship will support Nico's continued postdoctoral work on the roles of retinoic acid in caudal fin development in the lab, and will provide him with additional support after starting his own independent lab!

August 8, 2025

Our annual McMenamin Lab retreat included an in-depth examination of Yamato's koi pond.

July 30, 2025

We enjoyed an ice cream outing to celebrate the acceptance of Eric's paper and Cris' last day as a technician before she starts the PhD program in the Fall. 

June 18, 2025

Eric, Sarah and Nico headed to San Juan Puerto Rico for the 20th International Conference of Developmental Biology. Nico and Eric both presented posters of their work and we had an amazing time.

May 30, 2025

Boston College hosted the third annual Boston Area Zebrafish Researchers meeting (BAZaR)! Nico gave a flash talk and Anna presented a flash talk, and Toshiaki, Eric and Tho presented their work in the poster session. Thanks to the organizers Juanma Gonzalez Rosa, Kellee Siegfrid and Gewn Beacham for an amazing meeting!

May 16 2025

Along with Dr. Erica Crespi, Sarah presented a webinar with the theme Hormonal Control of Regeneration hosted by the International Society for Regenerative Biology. Thank you to the organizers for a very fun opportunity to present! The recording can be accessed here for a limited time.

May 2 2025

Congratulations to the McMenamin Lab Undergraduates who presented in the Hamliton Symposium undergraduate research day! Regan, Leah, Kate, Deirdre, Tho and Mica (not pictured) all gave posters of their projects.

April 26 2025

We had a great time at the Northeast Regional Society for Developmental Biology meeting! Nico presented a talk on his new work, Sarah presented in the Education session on teaching developmental biology, and the lab presented posters by Eric, Tho, Anna, Deirdre and Toshiaki! And we got to see Lab Alum Joan Donahue, now a PhD student at U Penn.

February 15, 2025

Welcome to new McMenamin lab PhD student Sofia Uribe!

February 26, 2025

A collaboration with sociologist Dr. Latricia Best was just published in Developmental Biology. We explored the impacts of social inequity on the timing of developmental life history events across human populations, suggesting ways that these concepts can be integrated in developmental biology classrooms. 

McMenamin SM, Best L. 2025. Developmental life history transitions can be shaped by structural inequities. Developmental Biology, 10.1016. 

February 5, 2025

Sarah had an amazing visit to Michigan State University where she had fun giving a symposium and holding her first live gar! Thanks to Ingo Braasch and to Olivia Fitch for the invitation and a wonderful and inspiring trip.

December 14, 2024

We celebrated our annual non-denominational winter holiday with dinner and a gift exchange, a festive dinosaur and sawhorse, and lab twins Wayne and Sean and a surprise visit from lab alum Andrew!

November 12, 2024

We enjoyed an evening of posters and science at the Smith Campus Center in Boston!

November 4, 2024

Sarah had a great trip to Texas to give a seminar at Rice University. A wonderful chance to connect with colleagues and collaborators! Thanks to Harini Iyer for being an extremely generous host.

October 29, 2024

We were thrilled to be able to work with colleagues in the Shkil (Koltzov Institute), Harris (BCH and Harvard Medical School) and Daane (University of Houston) Labs to contribute to Dr. Kate Woronowicz's work showing that adaptation of Charr morphs involves shifts in thyroid hormone signaling. 

Woronowicz CZ, Esin Evgeny, Markevich GN, Soto Martinez C, McMenamin SK, Daane JM, Harris MP, Shkil FN. Phylogenomic analysis of the Lake Kronotskoe species flock of Dolly Varden Charr reveals genetic and developmental signatures of sympatric radiation. Development, https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.203002.

August 30, 2024

The truncate fin shape manuscript has been selected as a preLights preprint highlight at The Node. Check out Isabella Cisneros' summary of the work! 

August 2, 2024

We enjoyed an off site lab retreat of community-building activities and project planning. We bid a fond farewell to our summer student from Wheaton College, Ben Lyon.

July 16, 2024

Eric's manuscript is now available on BioRxiv! We show that modulating sonic hedgehog in early fin fold development can dramatically reprogram the shape of the growing fin, creating a triangular truncate fin instead of the normal forked shape. Congratulations to Eric, Joan, Nico and everyone working on this project!

Surette E, Donahue J, Robinson S, McKenna D, Soto Martinez C, Fitzgerald B, Karlstrom RO, Cumplido N, McMenamin SK. Adult caudal fin shape is imprinted in the embryonic fin fold. bioRxiv: 10.1101/2024.07.16.603744.

July 18, 2024

Melody's ray transplant paper is now in press! Congratulations to Melody, Yinan and Jenny! Read about how distal portions of fin rays can regenerate in proximal locations, and remember components of their original identity.

 
Autumn M, Hu Y, Zeng J, McMenamin SK.  2024. Growth patterns of caudal fin rays are informed by both external signals from the regenerating organ and remembered identity autonomous to the local tissue. Developmental Biology, S001216062400188X. 

June 17, 2024 

The lab is thrilled to welcome Dr. Toshiaki Uemoto to our group as a postdoc! Toshiaki earned his PhD in Tohoku University in Miyagi Japan, and his work focuses on the mechanisms of positional information that guide regeneration.

May 31, 2024 

Eric Surette represented the lab at Euro Evo Devo in Finland, presenting both a poster and a talk.

May 31, 2024 

The lab joined zebrafish researchers from across the greater Boston area at BAZaR 2024 at Boston University! Thank you to the hosts and congratulations to lab member Eric Surette who was awarded Best Graduate Student Talk! 

May 24, 2024 

We are beyond proud of Dr. Melody Anastasia Sabrina Autumn, who successfully defended their thesis "Thyroid hormone-informed patterning and remembered positional identity direct zebrafish fin ray morphology"! 

Melody's indomitable spirit, incredible scientific independence, legendary micromanipulation and epic scientific communication skills have added so much to our lab. Their most recent work on remembered positional identity of fin rays can be found here.  

Bidding farewell is bittersweet and we are so excited for Melody's big move to Chicago and their next set of adventures!

May 21, 2024 

Congratulations to the lab's 2024 graduating seniors Andrew Gans, Jenny Zeng and Elird Haxhimihali, and to Dr. Stacy Nguyen, who recieved her official doctoral hood! Lab alum Bella Ranieri joined us to watch Dr. Stacy officially get her hood.

May 14, 2024 

The lab is extremely excited to welcome Dr. Nicolás Cumplido to our group as a postdoc! Nicolás earned his PhD from the University of Chile in Santiago Chile, and has spent several years as a postodcotral researcher working with Dr. Joao Botelho and Dr. Gloria Arratia. Nico is interested in the evolutionary development and diversification of fish fins.

May 3, 2024 

Congratulations to McMenamin Lab Undrgraduates Andrew Gans, Jenny Zeng and Deirdre McKenna who presented posters at the Boston College Hamliton Symposium. Afterwards we enjoyed a Fish Lab Game Night with the Gonzalez Rosa lab to enjoy a meal, lab member Bingo and a few great card games together!

April 29, 2024 

We had a wonderful time at NESDB! Rachel, Andrew, Deirdre, Eric and Melody + Jenny presented their posters and Melody gave a great flash talk on Friday. Thank you to the organizers for a great meeting and to the weather for giving us a sunny weekend in Woods Hole!

January 23, 2024 

The McMenamin Lab is delighted to welcome new PhD student John Gabelmann! 

Jan 9, 2024 

Sarah traveled to present the lab's work at the 10th Strategic Conference of Zebrafish Investigators in beautiful Monterey CA. Sarah and new Boston College faculty member Juanma González-Rosa took some time after talks to enjoy the Asilomar beach sunset!