Morgan Coburn, PhD

Morgan earned her Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience and Behavior from Mount Holyoke College and her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Irvine. She conducted her doctoral research in the laboratory of Dr. Mathew Blurton-Jones and focused on human microglial dynamics in Alzheimer’s disease, emphasizing uniquely human genetic factors that influence microglial responses to pathology. During her graduate work, she helped develop a chimeric model that enables the study of human iPSC-derived microglia as they integrate into the mouse brain and mature alongside disease processes.

While completing her Ph.D., Morgan discovered a deep passion for teaching, mentorship, and community engagement. She served as co-chair of the Brain Explorer Academy (BEA), a free eight-week Saturday program of the CNLM Ambassador Program that introduces elementary and middle school students to the brain. In this role, she led graduate student volunteers and helped design lessons and hands-on activities that made complex neuroscience concepts accessible and fun. As a CNLM Ambassador, Morgan also helped launch UC Irvine’s Brain Camp, developing curriculum and content for middle and high school students. Both BEA and Brain Camp have since grown into cornerstone CNLM programs under the leadership of Dr. Manuella Oliveira Yassa—BEA now supported by an NIH SEPA grant and Brain Camp continuing each summer to engage hundreds of young learners. During graduate school, Morgan was also selected as a Pedagogical Fellow through UCI’s Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation (DTEI), where she received advanced training in evidence-based teaching and inclusive pedagogy that continues to shape her approach to science education.

After earning her doctorate, Morgan completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Virginia, where she continued researching microglia before returning to UC Irvine as a CNLM Postdoctoral Fellow in Outreach and Education and now serves as the Assistant Director of Outreach and Education. In this role, she mentors neuroscience trainees, builds community partnerships, and advances efforts to make neuroscience and STEM education more accessible, equitable, and connected to society.