A Full Circle Moment: Stowers Investigator named Co-Director of MBL Embryology Course | Stowers Institute

Stowers Investigator Tatjana Piotrowski. Credit: Stowers Institute for Medical Research

Nearly 30 years after taking the MBL's esteemed Embryology course as a student, Stowers Institute Investigator Tatjana Piotrowski has been named the course's co-director.

In 1995, Investigator , was a student in the world-renowned Embryology course at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Now, nearly 30 years later, she has been named Co-Director of the esteemed training course. It’s a full circle moment for Piotrowski who will bring extensive experience to the prestigious role.

Known for her significant exploring sensory organ system development and regeneration in zebrafish, the appointment marks a new chapter in her ongoing commitment to scientific education and mentorship.

"When I took the class in 1995, I never imagined I would be named Co-Director all these years later,” Piotrowski said. “Many students feel overwhelmed by the vast amount of knowledge and new techniques they learn because the coursework is intensive, but it’s an incredibly enriching experience that has significant impact on career trajectory."

The MBL’s Embryology course, Embryology: Concepts and Techniques in Modern Developmental Biology, established in 1893, has produced numerous leaders in developmental biology and related fields. "Many Nobel Prize winners have been associated with the MBL," Piotrowski said, highlighting the MBL’s legacy of excellence and successful training methods. In total, six students and eight faculty associated with the course have become Nobel Laureates, and numerous others have emerged as prominent leaders and pioneers in their fields. .