Michelle Halstead

Dr. Halstead is an assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences with interests in mammalian embryology and gene regulation. Her research is driven by a fundamental question: What drives successful mammalian development?

The Halstead lab investigates the molecular mechanisms that govern the earliest stages of embryogenesis, focusing on how embryos activate their genomes after fertilization and establish the first cell lineages. Using cattle embryos and stem cell-based models, her group applies advanced transcriptomic and epigenomic techniques alongside genetic gain and loss of function approaches to: 1) Identify key regulators of embryonic genome activation; 2) Study how in vitro manipulations, such as embryo culture and cloning, influence developmental trajectories; and 3) Conduct functional studies of genetic variants linked to early lethality, providing insight into their effects on gene regulation and developmental outcomes.

By defining the molecular logic of early development, this research has the potential to improve assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in livestock and provide a broader framework for understanding why pregnancy succeeds or fails.