Derrick Morton

• Postdoctoral Fellow, Emory University , 09/01/2016-08/31/2020

Tenure Track Appointments

• Assistant Professor, Molecular and Computational Biology, University of Southern California , 08/2021 –

Research, Teaching, Practice, and Clinical Appointments

• Assistant Professor , Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine ,

PostDoctoral Appointments

• Postdoctoral Fellow, Emory University , 09/2016 – 08/2020

Visiting and Temporary Appointments

• Visiting Associate , California Institute of Technology (Caltech), 06/2020

Summary Statement of Research Interests

The primary research goal of my lab is to study the fundamental mechanisms of post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression with an emphasis on RNA processing factors mutated in complex brain disorders. Specifically, we are interested in the post-transcriptional activities of a multi-subunit RNA processing enzyme, the RNA exosome complex, in human neurodevelopment and disease. In my lab, we have taken the strategy of coupling in vivo Drosophila genetics with in vitro human iPSC-derived brain organoid models to understand how defects in subunits of the ubiquitous and essential RNA exosome complex cause tissue-specific consequences.

Research Keywords

RNA Biology, RNA-regulatory complexes, RNA Processing, RNA exosome, Gene expression, Neurological disease, Pontocerebellar Hypoplasia, Drosophila model, Brain Organoids

• Sloan Research Fellowship Recipient, 2023-2025
• Burroughs Wellcome, Postdoctoral Career Development Award , 2017/09/01-2021/08/31
• 100 Inspiring Black Scientists in America, Cell Press CrossTalk , 2020-2021
• Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2017/09/01-2020/08/31
• NIH Institutional Research and Career Development Award (IRACDA) Postdoctroal Fellow, 2016/09/01-2020/08/31