Becca Coltogirone, an assistant professor in the Department of Biology who also serves as an academic advisor and director of the undergraduate neuroscience program in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, has been selected for the December Faculty Feature.
In her multifaceted role, the Finleyville, Pennsylvania, native and University alum is responsible for driving the growth of the undergraduate neuroscience program by managing recruitment events and implementing curricular updates.
Additionally, she supervises neuroscience research capstones and maintains a diverse teaching portfolio ranging from Principles of Biology to advanced courses such as Neuroscience and Neurodevelopmental Disorders.
Ultimately, she works to ensure neuroscience majors receive personalized academic guidance and professional development opportunities that align with their long-term career goals.
“I am committed to the principle that any motivated student can succeed in neuroscience when provided with appropriate guidance, structure and mentorship,” she said. “I feel most in my element in a classroom, helping students build confidence in science. Seeing a student’s ‘light bulb moment’ remains one of my favorite parts of teaching.”
She began her graduate studies in wildlife biology at WVU in August 2016, aspiring to become an ornithologist. However, she was prompted by a “strong gut feeling" to leave the program — a decision she described as a low point. With support from faculty and staff, she successfully transitioned to the biology master’s program and began conducting research in a neuroscience lab in January 2017.
This shift ignited a new passion for studying brain development, ultimately leading her to pursue a doctorate degree focused on gene expression and regulation during zebrafish brain development.
She dedicated part of her doctoral research to science education outreach by partnering with the Health Sciences and Technology Academy to develop a week-long camp for high school students. She used the camp to evaluate how simple experiments using zebrafish could boost students’ science confidence and serve as a classroom tool for West Virginia teachers.
In 2021, while preparing to defend her dissertation, she applied for a teaching assistant professor position dedicated to building the newly launched undergraduate neuroscience program, which was established in 2020. Following a competitive interview process, she joined the Department of Biology faculty.
“As a graduate student, I felt the Biology Department and its people functioned as a cohesive, supportive team,” she said. “The relationship between research, teaching and service faculty is incredibly healthy, so I had no reservations about staying at WVU.”
Just two years later, she was promoted to director of the undergraduate program in neuroscience. Under her leadership, the program grew to more than 150 students and launched a new minor.
Watching her first four-year cohort of students walk across the Commencement stage in May remains one of her most gratifying career moments.
“I navigated a winding, uncertain path and ended up in an unexpected role where I truly flourish,” she said. “The trials and tribulations I experienced led me to where I was meant to be — in a role where I get to share my love for the brain with a diverse and energetic student population.”
Coltogirone’s hobbies include cycling and reading. She also enjoys traveling with her husband and spending time with their “furry children,” which include two Australian Shepherds, Piper and Otto; a cat, Josie; and a green cheek conure, Lemon, whose favorite phrase is “Gimme kiss!”
Nominate a University faculty member for a future Faculty Feature by sending an email to enews@mail.wvu.edu.