Emily Kolenbrander Ho

I am a developmental biologist and incoming assistant professor at Claremont McKenna College in the Kravis Department of Integrated Sciences (Summer 2025).

My research investigates how cells in the early embryo communicate with each other to coordinate the complex task of building a body. Using a toolbox of light-activated proteins (optogenetics), novel fluorescent biosensors, and genome editing, we explore how cells make quantitative measurements about the signals they receive and then use those measurements to make decisions about their fate.

As an undergraduate at Carleton College, I looked at fluorescent embryos under the microscope for the first time and fell in love with developmental biology. Since then, my research journey has taken me to Stanford where I studied a protein called Sonic Hedgehog (yes, named after Sonic the Hedgehog) and then to Princeton where I’ve been shining blue light on Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) embryos to investigate how cells send messages to each other. I’m excited to open my undergraduate-powered research laboratory at CMC soon.

My current CV is available here.

Get in touch:
Email: ekho@princeton.edu
X: @emkolen