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L. Ryan Baugh

Professor of Biology
Biology
Duke Box 90338, Durham, NC 27708-4129
4314 French Family Science Center, Duke Box 90338, Durham, NC 27708

Overview


The Baugh Lab is interested in phenotypic plasticity and adaptation to starvation. We use the roundworm C. elegans for an integrative organismal approach that considers molecular mechanisms in a developmental and ecological context. We are studying how development is governed by nutrient availability, how animals survive starvation, long-term consequences of early life starvation, and multigenerational plasticity.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Professor of Biology · 2023 - Present Biology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Associate Professor of Cell Biology · 2022 - Present Cell Biology, Basic Science Departments
Affiliate of the Center for Genomic and Computational Biology · 2019 - Present Biology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Affiliate of the Duke Regeneration Center · 2021 - Present Duke Regeneration Center, Basic Science Departments

In the News


Published April 8, 2025
‘Forever Chemicals’ Are Everywhere. Most of Their Health Effects Are Unknown
Published July 8, 2019
Life is Tough But So Are Worms -- Thanks to Mom
Published October 27, 2016
Underfed Worms Program Their Babies to Cope With Famine

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Recent Publications


DAF-18/PTEN protects LIN-35/Rb from CLP-1/CAPN-mediated cleavage to promote starvation resistance.

Journal Article Life science alliance · June 2025 Starvation resistance is a fundamental trait with profound influence on fitness and disease risk. DAF-18, the Caenorhabditis elegans ortholog of the tumor suppressor PTEN, promotes starvation resistance. PTEN is a dual phosphatase, and DAF-18 promot ... Full text Cite

Structure-specific variation in per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances toxicity among genetically diverse Caenorhabditis elegans strains.

Journal Article Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology · May 2025 Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are in 99% of humans and are associated with a range of adverse health outcomes. It is impossible to test the >14,500 structurally diverse "forever chemicals" for safety, therefore improved assays to quantify stru ... Full text Cite
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Recent Grants


Nutritional Control of Nematode Development

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2030

NSF-SNSF: Molecular Mechanism of a Life-History Tradeoff between Growth and Survival

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2024 - 2027

Training Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2001 - 2027

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Education, Training & Certifications


Harvard University · 2004 Ph.D.
University of Georgia · 1997 B.S.