Biography:

Dr. Jenifer Monks joined the IMGC Scientific Advisory Committee in 2026. Dr. Monks received a B.S. in General Chemistry from Harvey Mudd College and a Ph.D. in Cell and Developmental Biology, studying with Dr. Margaret (Peggy) Neville. Dr. Monks has worked in the field of lactation biology for over 25 years, using genetically modified mouse models to explore fundamental questions in mammary gland biology.  Dr. Monks is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, PI of the Colorado Lactation Labs Research Group, and currently serves on the Advisory Council of the Mother’s Milk Bank of the Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation.  Current projects in the lab focus on (1) the transition from pregnancy to lactation and the cellular mechanisms of secretory activation or lactogenesis, and (2) the development of myoepithelial cell contractile function during this transition. Current CV can be found here.