BIANCA JONES MARLIN, PHD

HHMI Freeman Hrabowski Scholar
Herbert and Florence Irving Assistant Professor of Cell Research
Department of Psychology, Department of Neuroscience
Principal Investigator at Columbia University
Zuckerman Institute

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Bianca Jones Marlin, PhD is a neuroscientist and the Herbert and Florence Irving Assistant Professor of Cell Research in the Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience at Columbia University and the Zuckerman Institute and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Freeman Hrabowski Scholar. Her research investigates how organisms unlock innate behaviors at appropriate times, and how learned information is passed to subsequent generations via transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. Dr. Marlin’s experimental approach combines neural imaging, behavior, and molecular genetics to uncover the mechanisms by which learning and emotion are biologically transmitted from neurons of the parent to neurons of their offspring. The resulting insights into how learned behavior in the parent can become innate behavior in the offspring promise to make a profound impact on societal brain health, mental well-being, and parenting.

Prior to joining the faculty at Columbia, Dr. Marlin completed her postdoctoral work under the mentorship of Nobel Laureate, Dr. Richard Axel, where she investigated how trauma experienced by parents affects the brain structure and sensory experience of their future offspring. Dr. Marlin received her PhD from New York University working in the lab of Dr. Robert Froemke, where she examined how the brain adapts to care for a newborn— specifically the role of the neuropeptide oxytocin in maternal behavior. She has dual bachelor degrees in biology and adolescent education from St. John’s University.

Dr. Marlin’s work has been recognized with several awards and honors, including: Popular Science Magazine’s Brilliant 10, the STAT Wunderkind Award, the Allen Institute’s Next Generation Leaders Council, the Donald B. Lindsley Prize in Behavioral Neuroscience, and Discover Magazine’s Top 100 Stories. Her research and perspectives have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Geographic, Discover Magazine, and Forbes, among others.

 

Positions and Education

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Columbia University
Advisor: Richard Axel, MD
2016 – 2020

PhD, Neurobiology and Physiology, New York University
Advisor: Robert Froemke, PhD
2009 – 2015

BS, Biology; BS, Adolescent Education, St. John’s University
Dual Major, Honors College
Advisor: Diana Bartelt, PhD
2004 – 2009

  • 2024 Bruce McEwen Memorial Early Career Investigator Award - Stress Neurobiology Workshop

    2023 HHMI Freeman Hrabowski Scholar – $8,600,000

    2023 Ernest E. Just Early Career Investigator Award

    2023 NIH R25 Neuroscience Doctoral Readiness Program

    2023 Bruce McEwen Memorial Early Career Investigator

    2022 Provost’s Grants Program for Junior Faculty who Contribute to the Diversity Goals of the University – $30,000

    2022 Hypothesis Fund Award – $300,000

    2022 New Investigator Award (National) – Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Basic Science; Juneteenth: A Freedom Celebration

    2021 The Brilliant 10 – Popular Science Magazine

    2020 Next Generation Leaders Council – Allen Institute for Brain Science

    2017 STAT Wunderkind Award – STAT News, The Boston Globe

    2017 Simons Foundation Junior Fellow

    2016 Donald B. Lindsley Prize in Behavioral Neuroscience – Society for Neuroscience; The Grass Foundation – $5,000

    2016  Outstanding Dissertation Prize – Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences - $500

    2015 Discover 100 Top Stories of 2015 – Discover Magazine

    2015 NIH Director’s Blog & “Lab TV” – Spotlight Researcher

    2015 Special McCracken Award in Science – New York University School of Medicine - $500

    2014 Best Poster Presentation – 5th International Conference on Auditory Cortex - $100

    2014 Best Speaker Presentation – Advances and Perspectives in Auditory Neurophysiology - $500

    2013 Best Poster Presentation – Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine

    2012 Presidential Leadership and Service Award – NYU’s Black and Latino Association

    2012 Best Poster Presentation – Bouchet Graduate Honor Society, Yale University

    2009 Distinguished Student Leader Award, St. John’s University

    2008  Gold Award of Servant Leadership, St. John’s University

    2006 Ronald E. McNair Scholar, St. John’s University

  • The Parental Brain
    PSYC GU4491 (CourseWorks)

    Bianca Jones Marlin, PhD, Instructor
    Rajyashree Sen, PhD, Co-Lecturer
    Dakota Green, MA, Teaching Assistant

    Marriage, friendships, family, scientific collaborations - social relationships are the cornerstone of our society. Arguably the most influential social relationship is that between parent and child. The parental brain provides an overview of the field of parental and social biology, with an emphasis on changes in the adult mammalian brain surrounding childbirth and caretaking behavior. We will also discuss the dynamic between caregivers and parents in order to provide the structure necessary to rear young and how the experience of parenthood prepares the brain for survival of offspring.

    This course is taught concurrently at Taconic Correctional Facility by Dr. Rajyashree Sen and Dr. Thiago Arzua in collaboration with the Center for Justice. Our goal is to bring the beauty of biology and the social brain to all.

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    Children at Risk
    PSYC 3615 (CourseWorks)

    Geraldine Downey, PhD, Instructor
    Bianca Jones Marlin, PhD, Co-Instructor

    It has been said that it takes a village to raise a child. Children differ from one another in ways that can affect the course of development. Some are more talented musically and others athletically. Some have developmental difficulties; some have easier temperaments than others. How do we create environments that support the healthy development of each and every child—regardless of personality, abilities, gender, race, ethnicity, social class, or family structure? The course considers how children’s development is influenced by their own characteristics, families, communities, and societies and asks students to think like a policy maker. We analyze the immediate and enduring biological and behavioral impact of risk factors, their interaction, and child and contextual factors that modify their effects. Our goal is to bridge the areas traditionally covered by developmental and abnormal psychology and public health with an emphasis on considering the public policy implications of risk in children’s lives from a human rights and social justice perspective.

  • 2024

    Optogenetics Gordon Research Conference (GRC), Lucca, IT, July 21 - 26

    Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum, Vienna, AT, June 25-29

    Stress Neurobiology Workshop, Boston, MA, June 4

    The International Symposium on Olfaction and Taste, Iceland, March 22 - 24

    Stanford Wu Tsai Neuroscience Seminar Series, Stanford, CA, March 14

    Janelia Conference: Sexually Dimorphic Circuits and Behaviors, Ashburn, VA, March 4

    Winter Conference on Neural Plasticity, Puerto Vallarta, MX, February 17

    Winter Conference on Issues in Developmental Psychobiology, Oahu, HI, January 4

    2023

    Puerto Rico Neuroscience Annual Conference, San Juan, PR, December 2

    European College of Neuropsychopharmacology Congress, October 7 - 10

    Perinatal Research Society, Park City, UT, September 29 - October 1

    Princeton University Department of Molecular Biology Butler Seminar Series Princeton, NJ, September 19 - 21

    Marine Biological Laboratory Neural Systems & Behavior Course, Woods Hole, MA, July 18 - 22

    Society of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Panel, Tours, France, June 29

    Society of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Keynote Address, Tours, France, June 26

    Transforming Science Conference, Cartagena, Colombia, June 15 - 19

    NOVA Your Brain Panel, Brooklyn NY, June 8

    Gordon Research Conference, Modulation of Neural Circuits and Behavior, Diablerets, Switzerland, May 21

    Tel Aviv University Reimagining Inheritance Workshop, Tel Aviv, Israel, May 9

    Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences Special Seminar, Jerusalem, Israel, May 3

    Weizmann Institute Department of Brain Sciences Neuroscience Seminar, Rehovot, Israel, May 2

    Mount Holyoke College Hastorf Lecture, South Hadley, MA, April 27

    University of Massachusetts Amherst Neuroscience and Behavior Colloquium, South Hadley, MA, April 26

    Center for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Research’s (CDASR) Speaker Series, Cambridge, MA, April 19

    Harvard Center for Brain Science Seminar, Cambridge, MA, February 28

    Winter Conference on Neural Plasticity, Los Cabos, Mexico, February 4 - 11

    Columbia University Irving Medical Campus Grand Rounds Talk, New York, NY, February 1

    Stavros Niarchos Foundation Brain Insight Lecture Series, New York, NY, January 18

    2022

    Salk Institute Seminar Series, La Jolla, CA, December 22

    Rockefeller University Lecture Series, New York, NY, October 21

    Caltech Diverse Minds Seminar, Pasadena, CA, October 11

    Gordon Research Conference, Optogenetic Approaches to Understanding Neural Circuits and Behavior, Newry, ME, July 17 - 22

    Federation of European Neuroscience Societies Forum, Paris, France, July 9 - 13

    Iowa Neuroscience Institute Seminar, Iowa City, IA, June 3

    Parental Brain: Meeting on the Neuroscience of Parenting, St. Malo, France, May 16

    University College London Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, May 12

    Emotions Brain Forum, London, England, May 12

    Northwest Association for Biomedical Research, IACUC Conference, virtual, February 24

    2021

    Emotions Brain Forum, Lugano, Switzerland, December 3

    Integrated Learning Initiative, Learning & The Brain Conference, Boston, MA, November 19

    Columbia University Cultural Memory Seminar, virtual, October 12

    University of Utah Department of Neurobiology, Salt Lake City, UT, October 5

    Mount Sinai Series on Racism and Mental Health, virtual, September 30

    Weill Cornell Medicine Office of Postdoctoral Affairs Keynote Address, virtual, September 23

    Columbia University Dept. of Psychology Colloquium, virtual, September 22

    Broad Institute Stanley Center Biennial Symposium, virtual, September 21

    Chautauqua Lecture Series: The Human Brain: Our Greatest Mystery, Chautauqua, NY, August 18

    7th Annual Virtual NEURAL Conference Keynote Address, virtual, August 13

    Whitney Museum of American Art, Black/Queer/Abstract: A Convening on the Occasion of Julie Mehretu, New York, NY, July 28

    University of Pennsylvania, Neuroscience Seminar, virtual, April 28

    Columbia Access Neuroscience (CAN), New York, NY, April 23

    ACHEMS Annual Meeting, Development of Chemosensation and Perception, virtual, April 20

    Northeastern Biology Colloquium, virtual, April 19

    University of California, Berkeley Graduate Seminar, virtual, April 5

    University of California, San Francisco Neuroscience Seminar, virtual, April 1

    University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, virtual, March 24

    The City College of New York, virtual, March 22

    Cornell University, Neurobiology and Behavior, virtual, February 11

    The Adaptive Brain, Inaugural Weizmann-Columbia Brain Symposium, virtual, January 25

    2020

    University of Pittsburgh, Neurobiology, virtual, December 9

    The American College of Neuropharmacology, virtual, Invited Poster Presentation), December 6

    University of North Texas, Biology, virtual, November 13

    Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students, virtual, November 10

    Neuromatch 2020, virtual, October 28

    Studio Lab, Shades of Blues, virtual, October 21

    Weill Cornell Medicine, Psychiatry, virtual, October 20

    Breakthrough: Trauma Tracer Watch Party, virtual, October 10

    Stavros Niarchos Foundation Brain Insight Lecture: Stress, Sleep and Resilience, virtual, September 23

    Stanford University NeuroZoom Seminar, virtual, August 3

    #BlackJourneyToNeuro, July 29

    Molecular & Cellular Neurobiology Gordon Research Conference (postponed 2021), July 5

    2019

    Columbia University Zuckerman Institute, Columbia University, NY, September 5

    Growing Up in Science, virtual, July 19

    Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, July 10

    Becoming Mom: Stories About Wanting to Mother, The Story Collider Podcast, May 6

    Duke University, School of Medicine, Duke University, NC, March 1

    Winter Conference on Neural Plasticity, Mo’orea, Fr. Polynesia, February

    SciCafe: Science of Love, February 6

    Columbia University, Dept. of Psychology, Columbia University, NY, February 8

    Talks Progress Administration, January 20

    2018

    Survival: The Imagine Science Film Festival Closing Night 2018 Symbiosis Film Competition, New York, NY, October 19

    Story Collider Presents: ATTRACTION, August 7

    What You Inherit From Your Parents, You’re The Expert Podcast, July 15

    Caveat and Gizmodo Present: A Wake for Failed Scientific Theories, June 6

    Falling in Love is a Profound Experience Driven by Chemical Activity, April 24

    Secret Science Club Presents: Love is the Drug!, New York, NY, April 12

    2016

    Society for Neuroscience: Minisymposium, San Diego, CA, November 16

    Society of Biological Psychiatry, Atlanta, GA, May 12

    St. John’s University Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program Keynote Address, New York, NY, May 4

    Computational and Systems Neuroscience (COSYNE) 2016, Salt Lake City, UT, February 28

    Association for Research in Otolaryngology (ARO), San Diego, CA, February 23

    University of Puerto Rico, School of Medicine, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, USA, February 5

    University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, USA, February 2

    2015

    Barrels XXVIII, Chicago, IL, October 16

    2014

    Society for Neuroscience: Nanosymposium, Washington, DC, October 17

    New York University Auditory Cortex Splash, New York, NY, May 10

    2007

    Vanderbilt University Science Academy, Nashville, TN, August

    Harvard University New England Science Symposium, Cambridge, MA, April

  • 2026 Optogenetic Approaches to Understanding Neural Circuits and Behavior, Gordon Research Conference

    2024 Optogenetic Approaches to Understanding Neural Circuits and Behavior, Gordon Research Conference, Tuscany, Italy, July 21 - 26.

    2022     Federation of European Neuroscience Societies Forum, Paris, FR, July 13

    2021 NIH Brain Initiative Investigator Meeting, Diversity of the Social Brain, virtual, June 17

    2021 Columbia-Mount Sinai Brain Symposium, New York, NY, May 25

  • 2024 Co-Chair (elected position), Optogenetics Gordon Research Conference.

    2023 IBRO Granada Program Committee.

    2021 – Present Advisory Board Member, Black in Neuro.

    2020 – 2021 Global Programs Committee Member, Society for Neuroscience.

    2019 – 2021 Chair, Society for Neuroscience: Training Advisory Committee.

    2018 – 2019 Leadership Development Program Member, Society for Neuroscience.

    2017 – 2018 Website Advisory Committee Member, Society for Neuroscience.

    2016 – 2018 Online Programs Steering Committee Member, Society for Neuroscience.

    2016 – 2018 Training Advisory Committee Member, Society for Neuroscience.

    2012 Member, Society for Neuroscience.

  • 2022 – 2023 Committee Member, Department of Psychology Race and Racism Scholars Faculty Search Committee, Columbia University.

    2022 – Present Lead Faculty Advisor, Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), Columbia University.

    2021 – Present Founder, Zuckerman Institute Dept. of Neuroscience - Black People Space (BPS), Columbia University.

    2022 BRAINS Fellows Cohort.

    2022 Member, Scholar Selection Committee, Innovation Scholars Program, Columbia University Zuckerman Institute.

    2021 Member, Innovation Scholars Program, Columbia University Zuckerman Institute.

    2021 Member, Organizing Committee, Inaugural Symposium with Friedman Brain Institute, Mount Sinai and Zuckerman Institute.

    2021 Member, Department of Neuroscience Faculty Search Committee, Columbia University.

    2020 Member, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Board , Columbia University Zuckerman Institute.

    2018 Founder, Scientist/Parents Group, Columbia University Zuckerman Institute.

    2018 – 2019 Member, Intellectual Life Committee, Columbia University Zuckerman Institute.

    2018 – 2019 Member, Columbia Neuroscience Seminar Series Selection Committee, Columbia University.

    2018 Co-Organizer, Growing Up in Science at Columbia University Zuckerman Institute.

    2016 Committee Member, Extramural Postdoc Seminars, Columbia University.

    2016 – 2017 Committee Member, Underrepresented Postdoc Association, Columbia University.

    2015 NYU Postdoctoral Recruiter: University of Puerto Rico Diversity Neuroscience Initiative, University of Puerto Rico: Mayagüez, Rio Piedras.

    2010 – 2013 Committee Member, Office of Diversity Affairs, New York University School of Medicine.

    2010 – 2012 Committee Member, NYC Minority Graduate Student Network.

    2010 – 2011 Committee Member, Black, Latino Student Association, NYU School of Medicine.

    2009 – 2015 Science Writer, The Sackler Messenger. NYU School of Medicine.