Rate My Professor Alison Miyamoto

Alison Miyamoto is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Science at California State University, Fullerton, where she has served since August 2008, advancing from Assistant Professor. She holds a PhD from Stanford University and a BS from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her research investigates the molecular mechanisms of Notch receptor signaling by typical and atypical ligands, as well as the developmental and cell biology of elastic fiber proteins, including microfibril-associated glycoproteins (MAGPs) such as MAGP1 and MAGP2. These studies explore how extracellular matrix components regulate cell signaling pathways critical for development and disease.

Miyamoto directs the COMPASS program, titled iPROSPR (An Inclusive Pipeline for Research and Other Stem Cell-Based Professions in Regenerative Medicine), funded by a $2,880,800 grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine spanning five years, with $434,680 allocated for the first year. The program recruits and trains 28 undergraduate biological science or biochemistry majors as COMPASS scholars, providing hands-on stem cell research opportunities and mentorship. Her laboratory has produced numerous publications, many co-authored with undergraduate students. Notable works include 'Beyond the Matrix: The Many Non-ECM Ligands for Integrins' (LaFoya et al., International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2018), 'Binding of MAGP2 to microfibrils is regulated by proprotein convertase cleavage' (Miyamoto et al., Matrix Biology, 2014), 'Microfibrillar proteins MAGP-1 and MAGP-2 induce Notch1 extracellular domain dissociation and receptor activation' (Miyamoto et al., Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2006), 'DSL-ligand endocytosis physically dissociates Notch1 heterodimers prior to activating proteolysis' (Nichols et al., Journal of Cell Biology, 2007), and 'The many facets of Notch ligands' (D'Souza et al., Oncogene, 2008). Her research output has garnered over 2,500 citations. She maintains an active laboratory mentoring students and contributes to undergraduate research programs such as MARC at CSUF.