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Tsai, Pei-San

Professor

Positions

Research Areas research areas

Research

research overview

  • Dr. Tsai's research is focused on how hormones from the brain (neurohormones) control reproduction. Her research program explores two divergent yet interrelated subject areas. The first is more clinically oriented and examines candidate genes whose mutations cause reproductive hormone insufficiency and infertility in humans and rodents. The second has an evolutionary component and examines the broad pattern of how neurohormones evolved over the course of metazoan (multi-cellular organism) evolution.

keywords

  • hormone, hypothalamus, pituitary, gonad, reproduction, neuroendocrinology, evolution

Publications

selected publications

Teaching

courses taught

  • IPHY 2010 - Seminar in Integrative Physiology
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2018
    Introduces a small group of lower-division students to current research topics in integrative physiology. Emphasizes relevant applications to real-world situations. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours when topics vary.
  • IPHY 3490 - Introduction to Epidemiology
    Secondary Instructor - Spring 2021
    Examines the history and uses of epidemiology, measures of disease frequency and occurrence, association and causality, analytic epidemiology, evidence-based screening and outbreak investigations. Recommended prerequisites: IPHY 2800 and SOCY 2061 and PSYC 3101.
  • IPHY 4440 - Endocrinology
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2018 / Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2022
    Introduces mammalian endocrine system. Provides a thorough analysis of chemical communication by hormones and related bioregulators with emphasis on the major endocrine systems such as the thyroid, gonad, pituitary and the brain. Students must take lecture and recitation sections. Same as IPHY 5440.
  • IPHY 5440 - Endocrinology
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2020 / Fall 2022
    Introduces mammalian endocrine system. Provides a thorough analysis of chemical communication by hormones and related bioregulators with emphasis on the major endocrine systems such as the thyroid, gonad, pituitary and the brain. Department enforced prerequisites: one year of general biology (lecture + lab) and one year of general chemistry (lecture + lab). Same as IPHY 4440.
  • IPHY 6830 - Professional Skills for the Research Scientist
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2019
    Discusses grant and manuscript writing, scientific presentations, peer-review, setting up/directing a research laboratory, research ethics, mentoring and other professional skills.
  • IPHY 6840 - Research Project
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2018 / Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2020 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2023 / Spring 2024
    Involves a scholarly investigation of a selected topic using literature and/or experimental techniques. Advisor required. May be repeated up to 3 total credit hours.

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