M E G AN K. M UL LI G AN , P H .D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
855 Monroe Avenue Suite 515
Memphis TN, 38163
Office: (901) 448-3221
Home: (512) 680-2386
Email: mmulliga@uthsc.edu, mulliganmk@gmail.com
E DU C AT I O N
2007
1999
1999
Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin
B.A. in Biology with Honors, University of California, Santa Cruz
B.A. in Psychology with Highest Honors, University of California, Santa Cruz
P R O F E S S I O N AL E X P E R I E N C E
2014–present
Assistant Professor: University of Tennessee Health Science Center,
Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics
2013–2014
Assistant Professor: University of Tennessee Health Science Center,
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology
2011–2013
Research Associate: University of Tennessee Health Science Center,
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology (R.W. Williams, mentor)
2009–2011
Postdoctoral Research Associate: University of Tennessee Health Science
Center, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology (R.W. Williams, mentor)
2008–2009
Postdoctoral Research Associate: University of Texas at Austin, Waggoner
Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research (R.A. Harris and I. Ponomarev,
mentors)
2001–2007
Graduate Research Associate: University of Texas at Austin, Waggoner Center
for Alcohol and Addiction Research (S.E. Bergeson, mentor)
Technician: University of California, Santa Cruz, Department of Molecular Cell
and Developmental Biology (W.T. Sullivan, mentor)
1999–2001
CURRENT SUPPORT
09.15.15–08.31.16 R073239013 (PI: MK Mulligan). NIDA: Genetic basis of binge eating and its
motivational components in a reduced complexity cross. Identification of genes
involved in binge eating and food reward using a genetic system with high
phenotype diversity but low genomic diversity. Role: Subcontract (10% effort).
09.26.14–08.31.18 R01AA023774 (PIs: B Jones and L Lu). NIH-NAL: Genetics of Chronic Mild
Stress and Alcohol Consumption. The major goals of this project are to use the
BXD genetic reference population to explore the effect of chronic mild stress on
voluntary alcohol consumption. Role: Co-Investigator (30% effort).
01.01.14–03.31.19 R01ES022614 (PIs: B Jones and L Lu). NIEHS: Neural Toxicity of Paraquat is
Related to Iron Regulation in the Midbrain. Exploring the impact of genetics and
dietary iron on sensitivity to the herbicide paraquat using the BXD genetic
reference population. Role: Co-Investigator (30% effort).
01.01.02–01.31.17 U01AA13499 (PI: R Williams). INIA: Robust Systems Genetics of Alcohol and
Stress Effects on CNS. Analysis, modeling, and predictive validation of networks
of CNS phenotypes and genotypes related to differences in responses to ethanol
and stress using mouse and rat genetic reference panels. Role: CoInvestigator (30% effort).
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MK Mulligan CV
(Spring 2016)
COMPLETED SUPPORT
07.01.14–06.30.15 R03DA038287 (PI: C Bryant). NIH-NIDA: Mapping G x E interactions for
Addiction Traits in a Reduced Complexity Cross. Identification of genes involved
in opioid reward using a genetic system with high phenotype diversity but low
genomic diversity. Role: Subcontract (10% effort).
2012–2013
UTHSC Neuroscience Institute Postdoctoral/Research Associate Award:
$15,000 towards salary and a $500 travel award supplement. Role: Post-doc.
2002–2005
Fred M. Jones Endowed Graduate Fellowship. Role: Graduate Student.
2001–2002
Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology Academic Scholarship. Role: Graduate
Student.
AW AR DS
2011
2nd Place Oral Presentation: 4th Annual Postdoctoral Research Day, University of
Tennessee Health Science Center
2010
Travel Award: International Behavioural and Neural Genetics Society 12th Annual
Genes, Brain, and Behavior Meeting, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2009
1st Place Winner Peter Doherty Poster Competition: 2nd Annual Postdoctoral
Research Day, University of Tennessee Health Science Center
2009
Travel Award and Scientific Poster Award: 23rd International Mammalian
Genome Conference, La Jolla, California
2008
Travel Award: International Behavioural and Neural Genetics Society 10th Annual
Genes, Brain, and Behavior Meeting, Portland, Oregon
2006
Outstanding Teaching Award Honorable Mention: School of Biological Sciences,
University of Texas at Austin
I NV I TE D S E MI N ARS AN D W O RK S H O P S
2015
Invited Talk: June 11th, Complex Trait Consortium 14th annual meeting, Oregan
Health and Science University, Portland, OR: “Leveraging reduced genomic
complexity to study the impact of mutation and gene function on complex traits”
2014
Invited Talk: September 10th, Department of Pharmacology Seminar Series,
University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN: “Exploring
neuronal population variation in mouse striatum”
2014
Selected Talk: 16th Annual International Behavioural and Neural Genetics
Society Genes, Brain & Behavior Meeting, Chicago, IL: “Cloning QTLs the easy
way: Leveraging a reduced complexity cross between C57BL/6 substrains”
2014
Invited Talk: Annual ORNL Biomedical Science and Engineering Conference
2014 The Multi-scale Brain: Spanning Molecular, Cellular, Systems, Cognitive,
Behavioral, and Clinical Neuroscience, Oak Ridge, TN: “Spatial and Genetic
Variation of Neuron Subpopulations in Mouse Striatum”
2014
Invited Lecture: University of Memphis BINF Bioinformatics seminar, Memphis,
TN “Genetic Determinants of CNS Variation: Mapping Brain Gene Expression
and Behavior with GeneNetwork”
2013
Chair and Selected Talk: Society for Neuroscience 2013 Staining, Tracing, and
Imaging Techniques Nanosymposium, San Diego, CA: “Direct and indirect
systems in mouse striatum: Spatial and genetic variation of medium spiny
neuron subpopulations”
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MK Mulligan CV
(Spring 2016)
2013
Invited Talk: Spring 2013 Neuroscience Seminar Series, UTHSC, Memphis, TN:
“Genetic determinants of CNS variation: Mapping brain gene expression,
neuronal subtypes, & behavior across murine populations”
2011
Selected Talk: 4th Annual Postdoctoral Research Day, UTHSC, Memphis, TN:
“A recent mutation in the C57BL/6J mouse genome causes decreased levels of
Gabra2 and results in downstream effects on gene expression and behavior”
2010
Selected Talk: Biomedical Science and Engineering Center 2010: Biomedical
Sciences Research and Analysis in Neuroscience, Oakridge, TN: “Genetic
Analysis of BDNF Expression Cliques and Adult Neurogenesis in the
Hippocampus”
2010
Selected Talk: 12th Annual Genes, Brain & Behavior Meeting, Halifax, Nova
Scotia: “Functional insertion of a B2 SINE in Comt controls 3’ UTR length and
generates widespread expression and behavioral differences among inbred
strains of mice”
2008
Selected Talk: 32nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Research Society on
Alcoholism, San Diego, CA: “Identification of ethanol responsive gene
expression modules after initial ethanol consumption in C57BL/6J mice”
2008*
Selected Talk: The University of Texas at Austin Section of Neurobiology 2008
Spring Retreat, Marble Falls, TX: “Transcriptome targets for alcohol action”
2005*
Invited Lecture: SYNAPSE (Student Neurobiology Club), Austin, TX: “The use
of Mouse Model Systems for the Study of the Behavioral Characteristics and
Genetics of High Alcohol Consumption”
2005*
Selected Talk: 10th Annual Neuroscience Symposium, Austin, TX:
“Transcriptome Meta-analysis: The Genetics of Alcohol Consumption in Mice”
S CI E NTI FI C CO N F E RE NCE AB S T R ACTS
2014
37th Annual RSA Scientific Meeting and 17th Congress of ISBRA, Bellevue,
Washington: M.K. Mulligan, S. Roy, and R.W. Williams. “Direct and Indirect
Systems in Mouse Striatum: Spatial and Genetic Variation of Medium Spiny
Neuron Subpopulations”
2013
15th Annual Meeting of the International Behavioural and Neural Genetics
Society, Leuvin, Belgium: M.K. Mulligan, A.L. Adler, A. Pandey, S. Roy, J.
Ingels, L. Lu, and R.W. Williams. “Genetic dissection of behavioral and metabolic
phenotypes using a test cross between C57BL/6 substrains”
2012
Complex Trait Community 11th Annual Meeting, Paris, France: M.K. Mulligan,
A.L. Adler, J. Ingles, L. Lu, and R.W. Williams. “The Co-Isogenic Cross (CIC):
Genetic dissection of phenotypes using next-gen sequencing and test crosses
between substrains”
2011
13th Annual Meeting of the International Behavioural and Neural Genetics
Society, Rome, Italy: M.K. Mulligan, X. Wang, J. Ingels, A. Adler, L. Lu, and
R.W. Williams. “A recent mutation in the C57BL/6J mouse genome causes
decreased levels of Gabra2 and results in downstream effects on gene
expression and behavior”
2009
23rd International Mammalian Genome Conference, La Jolla, California: M.K.
Mulligan, X. Wang, L. Lu, and R.W. Williams. “Genetic regulation of the
expression of major GABA-A receptor subunits in mouse brain”
2009
32nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism, San
Diego, California: M.K. Mulligan, J.S. Rhodes, J.C. Crabbe, R.A. Harris, and I.
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MK Mulligan CV
(Spring 2016)
Ponomarev. “Identification of ethanol responsive gene expression modules after
initial ethanol consumption in C57BL/6J mice”
2008
Tenth Annual Meeting of the International Behavioural and Neural Genetics
Society, Portland, Oregon: M.K. Mulligan, J.A. Owen, O. Velasquez, P.S. Levin,
Y. Wang, H. Krishnan, N.S. Atkinson, and S.E. Bergeson. “Binge Alcohol
Consumption Differentially Remodels the Brain Transcriptome in Juvenile and
Adult FVB.B6 Hybrid Mice”
2006
Society for Neuroscience, Atlanta, Georgia: I. Ponomarev, M.K. Mulligan, S.E.
Bergeson, and R.A. Harris. “Searching for cellular identity of transcriptional
correlates of alcohol consumption using public gene expression databases”
(Program No. 194.1/NN78. 2006 Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner)
2005
Society for Neuroscience, Washington, District of Columbia: M.K. Mulligan, S.L.
Boehm II, I. Ponomarev, P.S. Levin, Y.A. Blednov, and S.E. Bergeson.
“Expression analysis of inbred mouse strains displaying disparate alcohol
preference” (Program No. 560.21. 2005 Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner)
2005
Research Society for Alcoholism 28th Annual Meeting, Santa Barbara, California:
M.K. Mulligan, Y.A. Blednov, J.C. Crabbe, B. Tabakoff, S.V. Bhave, P.S. Levin,
J.A. Owen, and S.E. Bergeson. “The genetic determinants of alcohol preference:
brain gene expression analysis in differentially alcohol preferring C57BL/6J,
FVB/NJ and F1 progeny” (Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research:
Supplement, 29(5): 90A)
2005
Research Society for Alcoholism 28th Annual Meeting, Santa Barbara, California:
M.K. Mulligan, S.L. Boehm II, I. Ponomarev, P.S. Levin, and S.E. Bergeson.
“Genetic and behavioral analysis of disparate alcohol preferences in two closely
related inbred strains of C57BL/6” (Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental
Research: Supplement, 29(5): 91A)
O RI G I N AL P AP E R S
1. L. Lu, A. K. Pandey, M. Trevor Houseal, and M.K. Mulligan (2016). The Genetic Architecture of
Murine Glutathione Transferases. PLoS ONE (in revision).
2. X. Wang, A.K. Pandey, M.K. Mulligan, E. Williams, K. Mozhui, Z. Li, V. Jovaisaite, D Quarles, Z.
Xiao, J. Huang, J, Capra, Z, Chen, W. Taylor, L. Bastarche, X. Niu, K. Pollard, D. Ciobanu, A.
Reznik, A. Tishkov, I. Zhulin, J. Peng, S. F. Nelson, J. Denny, J. Auwerx, L. Lu, and R.W. Williams
(2016). Joint mouse-human phenome-wide association to test gene function and disease risk.
Nature Communications (in press).
3. M.K. Mulligan and R.W. Williams (2015). Systems genetics of behavior: a prelude. Current Opinion
in Behavioral Science, 2,108-115.
4. D. Shin, A.K. Pandey, J.D. Ziebarth, M.K. Mulligan, R.W. Williams, R. Geffers, B. Hatesuer, K.
Schughart, E. Wilk (2014). Segregation of a Spontaneous Klrd1 (CD94) Mutation in DBA/2 Mouse
Substrains. G3 (Bethesda) December 17;5(2):235-9, doi:10.1534/g3.114.015164. PMID:
25520036.
5. M.K. Mulligan, R.W. Williams (2014). Genetic and informatics resources for multi-scale research.
2014 Annual Oak Ridge National Laboratory Biomedical Science and Engineering Conference
(BSEC); 05/2014. doi: 10.1109/BSEC.2014.6867750.
6. M.K. Mulligan, C. Dubose, J. Yue, M.F. Miles, L. Lu, K.M. Hamre (2013). Expression, covariation,
and genetic regulation of miRNA biogenesis genes in brain supports their role in addiction,
psychiatric disorders, and disease. Frontiers in Statistical Genetics and Methodology July 2013
doi:10.3389/fgene.2013.00126. PMID: 23847651.
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MK Mulligan CV
(Spring 2016)
7. R.W. Williams and M.K. Mulligan (2012). Genetic and molecular network analysis of behavior.
International Reviews Neurobiology 104:135-57 doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-398323-7.00006-9. PMID:
23195314.
8. J. Boughter, M.K. Mulligan, S. St. John, K. Tokita, L. Lu, D. Heck, and R.W. Williams (2012).
Genetic control of a central pattern generator: rhythmic oromotor movement in mice is controlled
by a major locus near Atp1a2. PLoS ONE 7(5):e38169. PMID: 22675444.
9. M.K. Mulligan, X. Wang, A.L. Adler, K. Mozhui, L. Lu, and R.W. Williams (2012). Complex Control
of GABA(A) Receptor Subunit mRNA Expression: Variation, Covariation, and Genetic Regulation.
PLoS ONE 7(4):e34586. PMID: 22506031.
10. X. Wang, K. Mozhui, Z. Li, M.K. Mulligan, J.F. Ingels, R.T. Hori, H. Chen, M.N. Cook, R.W.
Williams, and L. Lu (2011). A promoter polymorphism in the Per3 gene is associated with alcohol
and stress response. Translational Psychiatry (2012) 2, e73; doi:10.1038/tp.2011.71. PMID:
22832735.
11. K. Mozhui, X. Wang, J. Chen, M.K. Mulligan, Z. Li, J. Ingles, X. Chen, L. Lu, and R.W. Williams
(2011). Genetic regulation of Nrxn1 expression: An integrative cross-species analysis of
schizophrenia candidate genes. Translational Psychiatry 1:e25; doi:10.1038/tp.2011.24. PMID:
22832655.
12. M.K. Mulligan, J.S. Rhodes, J.C. Crabbe, R.D. Mayfield, R.A. Harris, and I. Ponomarev (2011).
Molecular profiles of drinking to intoxication in C57BL/6J mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res.
Apr;35(4):659-70. PMID: 21223303.
13. Z. Li*, M.K. Mulligan*, X.Wang, M. F. Miles, L. Lu, and R.W. Williams (2010). A transposon in
Comt generates mRNA variants and causes widespread expression and behavioral differences
among mice. PLoS One, 5(8):e12181, *equal contribution. PMID: 20808911.
14. X. Wang , R. Agarwala, J. Capra, Z. Chen, D.M. Church, D.A. Ciobanu, L. Zhengsheng, L. Lu, K.
Mozhui, M.K. Mulligan, S.F. Nelson, K.S. Pollard, W.L. Taylor, D.B. Thomason, R.W. Williams
(2010). High-throughput sequencing of the DBA/2J mouse genome. BMC Bioinformatics, 11(Suppl
4):O7.
15. M.K. Mulligan, L. Lu, R.W. Overall, G. Kemperman, G.L. Rogers, M.A. Langston, R.W. Williams
(2010). Genetic Analysis of BDNF expression cliques and adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus.
Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Conference (BSEC), 25-26 May 2010,
doi:10.1109/BSEC.2010.5510847.
16. M.K. Mulligan, I. Ponomarev, S.L. Boehm, II, J.A. Owen, P.S. Levin, A.E. Berman, Y.A. Blednov,
J.C. Crabbe, R.W. Williams, M.F. Miles, and S.E. Bergeson (2008). Alcohol Trait and
Transcriptional Genomic Analysis of C57BL/6 Substrains. Genes, Brain and Behavior, 7(6):677-89.
PMID: 18397380.
17. M.K. Mulligan*, I. Ponomarev*, R.J. Hitzemann, J.K. Belknap, B. Tabakoff, R.A. Harris, J.C.
Crabbe, Y.A. Blednov, N.J. Grahame, T.J. Phillips, D.A. Finn, P.L. Hoffman, V.R. Iyer, G.F. Koob,
and S.E. Bergeson (2006). Toward understanding the genetics of alcohol drinking through
transcriptome meta-analysis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA,
103(16):6368-6373, * equal contribution. PMID: 16618939.
I N P RE P AR AT I O N
1. A. Baud, M.K. Mulligan, F.P. Casale, J. F. Ingels, C.J. Bohl, J. Callebert, J. Launay, J. Krohn, R.W.
Williams, O. Stegle (2016). Genetic variation in the social environment contributes to health and
disease. Nature (submitted).
2. M.K. Mulligan, A.K. Pandey, S. Gong, J. Ingels, M. Lopez, K. Mozhui, R.W. Williams (2016).
Genetic divergence in the temporal pattern of brain transcriptional response following chronic
ethanol exposure. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research (in preparation).
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MK Mulligan CV
(Spring 2016)
3. M.K. Mulligan, J. Ingels, A. Adler, X. Wang, Y. Gao, L. Lu, and R.W. Williams (2015). Genetic
dissection of the functional impact of a private mutation in the GABA Type-A receptor α subunit.
Genes, Brain, and Behavior (in preparation).
BO O K CH AP T E RS
1. M.K. Mulligan, K.Mozhui, P. Prins, R.W. Williams (2016). GeneNetwork-A Toolbox for Systems
Genetics. System Genetics: Methods and Protocols. Editors: Klaus Schughart and Robert
Williams. MiMB, Springer (in revision).
2. L. Lu, M.K. Mulligan, D. Heck (2012). MicroRNAs in Neurodegenerative Diseases. miRNAs and
Human Diseases, 2012: 89-106 ISBN: 978-81-308-0503-0. Editors: Junming Yue and Lu Lu.
Research Signpost (Kerala, India).
3. C. DuBose, M.K. Mulligan, R. J. Rooney, D. H. Patel, L. Lu, K. Hamre (2012). MicroRNAs, Drugs
of Abuse, Addiction, and Alcoholism. miRNAs and Human Diseases, 2012: 155-177 ISBN: 97881-308-0503-0. Editors: Junming Yue and Lu Lu. Research Signpost (Kerala, India).
4. H. Li, M.K. Mulligan, and M.M Jablonski (2012). Relevance of miRNAs to Eye Disease.
MicroRNAs, Drugs of Abuse, Addiction, and Alcoholism. miRNAs and Human Diseases, 2012:
179-196 ISBN: 978-81-308-0503-0. Editors: Junming Yue and Lu Lu. Research Signpost (Kerala,
India).
I NV I TE D J O UR N AL P E E R RE V I E W S
Alcohol, Cytokine, Alcohol Research and Health, Psychopharmacology, Genes, Biological Psychiatry, Brain
and Behavior, BMC Genomics, Genes, Brain, and Behavior, Frontiers in Neuroscience, Frontiers in
Neurology, Nutritional Neuroscience, Genetics.
AD M I NI S TR AT I V E DU TI E S
2014-2015
UTHSC Molecular Resource Center Bioinformatics Search Committee. Role:
External Consultant.
P RO F E S S I O N AL S O CI E TI E S
UTHSC Postdoctoral Association (president, 2010 and vice president, 2011)
Research Society on Alcoholism (member)
International Behavioural and Neural Genetics Society (member)
Society for Neuroscience (member)
Genetics Society of America (member)
TE AC H I N G AN D ME N TO RI NG
2016
Collierville High School student volunteer Austin Kimes. Role: Mentor.
2015
UTHSC undergraduate summer research program (student Sara Parker). Role:
Mentor.
2014
UTHSC, Behavioral Neuroscience (Anatomy 841) Behavioral Genetics Module.
Instructor: J Boughter. An overview of behavioral genetics considerations,
models, and resources, including demonstrations of GeneNetwork and R\qtl.
Role: Lecturer.
2014
UTHSC undergraduate summer research program (students Timothy Abreo and
Oscar Carrillo). Role: Mentor.
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MK Mulligan CV
(Spring 2016)
2014
UTHSC, Bioinformatics I (MSCI814) GeneNetwork module. Instructor: D Nelson.
An introduction to the use of the GeneNetwork web resource for systems
genetics. Role: Lecturer.
2006
The University of Texas at Austin, Neurobiology of Addiction (BIO 365W).
Instructor: RA Harris. Overview course on neurobiological processes that
underlie addiction. Role: Teaching Assistant.
2005
The University of Texas at Austin, Cell Biology (BIO 325). Large team-taught
undergraduate course required for biology majors. Role: Teaching Assistant.
2000
The University of California, Santa Cruz, Ecology and Evolution (BIO 20C). Role:
Teaching Assistant.
P RO F E S S I O N AL RE FE RE N C E S
R. Adron Harris, M. June & J. Virgil Waggoner Chair in Molecular Biology, Director, Waggoner
Center for Alcohol & Addiction Research, The University of Texas at Austin. Phone: 512-232-2514,
E-mail: harris@austin.utexas.edu
Susan Bergeson, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas
Tech University Health Sciences Center. Phone: 806-407-9930, E-mail:
Susan.Bergeson@TTUHSC.edu
Robert W. Williams, UT-ORNL Governor’s Chair in Computational Genomics and Genetics,
Genomics and Informatics Department Chair. Phone: 901-448-7050, E-mail: rwilliams@uthsc.edu
Lu Lu, Professor, Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, University of Tennessee
Health Science Center. Phone: 901-448-7557, E-mail: llu@uthsc.edu
Camron Bryant, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Boston University School of
Medicine. Phone: 617-638-4489, E-mail: camron@bu.edu
S T AT E ME N T O F RE S E AR C H
Research Focus. The goal of my research is to use a holistic systems approach, including genetic
models, new molecular biology tools, and diverse bioinformatics resources in order to identify
mechanisms by which genetic and environmental variation influence DNA modification, gene and protein
expression, and neuronal function to modulate complex behavior and disease states.
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