Steven Munger
Hi, my name is Steven Munger, and I matriculated into the UPGG in the Fall of 2004. I came to Duke (with my wife Heidi and 6-week-old daughter Grace in tow) after spending four years developing organic light-emitting diodes at a large chemical company in Michigan. Yes, I left behind the world of electroluminescent materials research in industry for developmental genetics research in academia – it's a long story. Upon entering Duke, I made brief forays into human and yeast genetics, but ended up choosing a model system that could be manipulated genetically like yeast with organs similar to humans - the mouse. I was lucky to join Blanche Capel's lab in the department of Cell Biology. The overall goal of the Capel lab is to study sex determination and testis organogenesis in the mouse and apply that knowledge to better understand reproductive disorders and sex reversal in humans. I am combining the powerful tools of linkage analysis and whole-genome transcription profiling to identify regions of the genome that affect gene expression (termed expression quantitative trait loci or eQTLs) in the developing mouse testis. The availability of genetically diverse inbred mouse strains affords me the opportunity to exploit these differences to elucidate the transcriptional network underlying sex determination. Sounds complex, and it is, but it is also very cool.
In the meantime, my daughter has transformed from a helpless, bald newborn into a “No, let me do it Daddy”, redheaded Mini-Me, and my hair is quickly becoming gray. In this case, correlation does equal causation! My wife and I have grown to love North Carolina and the “Triangle” in particular. The cost of living is low enough that we were able to afford a pretty nice house on our modest income (couldn't even dream of doing that in Boston!). And best of all, the eastern North Carolina vinegar-based pork BBQ accompanied by hushpuppies, coleslaw, and sweet tea is to die for. Go to Allen & Son BBQ in Chapel Hill and tell them Steve Munger sent you. They will have no idea who you are talking about, but you'll love the food regardless!
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