Christopher L. Baker, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Conducting research to determine how natural genetic variation influences chromatin biology, and, ultimately, phenotypic diversity.

I am broadly interested in two main aspects of genetics, heredity and variation. My lab focuses on how natural genetic variation shapes genome function in development. My lab combines both experimental bench work and computational methods to explore the impact of genetic variation on chromatin state and gene regulation. I have established expertise in a variety of quantitative approaches including functional genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics, and systems genetics. During my time at The Jackson Laboratory I have applied my broad skills in molecular biology to develop new functional genomic tools to investigate the role of epigenetic modifications on meiotic recombination and chromosome organization. Together this work demonstrated that meiotic chromatin undergoes a dynamic epigenetic reprogramming important to facilitate proper gamete formation. My lab now is focused on determining how genetic variation influences the epigenome and how these molecular features shape bias in early differentiation using embryonic stem cells as model systems.

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Grants, honors and accomplishments

2002 & 2003 Holzer Memorial Scholarship, a merit based award, University of Vermont

2003 Class of 1939 Scholarship, a merit based award, University of Vermont 

2003 James E. Ludlow Endowed Scholarship Award, University of Vermont 

2003 & 2004 Hughes Endeavor for Life Science Excellence Grant (HELiX), competitive undergraduate research award, University of Vermont 

2006-2008 National Institute for Health Pre-doctoral Training Grant, Dartmouth Medical School

2007 Albert J. Ryan Fellow, Albert J. Ryan Foundation 

2008 Society for Research on Biological Rhythms (SRBR) Excellence Award

2009 Rosaline Borison Memorial Fellowship 

2010 John W. Strohbehn Award for Excellence in Biomedical Research, Dartmouth Medical School (awarded to a single graduating Ph.D. student each year)

2010-2012 T32 Postdoctoral Fellowship, The Jackson Laboratory 

2012-2013 F32 NRSA NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship 

2012-2013 Ruth I. Kirschstein National Research Service AwardInpidual postdoctoral fellowship

2013 Outstanding Oral Presentation, 27th International Mammalian Genome Conference

2014 Outstanding Oral Presentation, 28th International Mammalian  Genome Conference

2016 PALM (Promoting Active Learning and Mentoring) Fellowship. See press NSF funded fellowship to promote long-term mentorship to improve undergraduate education.