Jacqueline Bonds, PhD

I have always been passionate about science education and research. I earned my B.A. in Biochemistry, with a minor in English, from the University of San Diego in 2009, where I first developed an interest in the molecular and behavioral foundations of brain function. I earned a Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2018, where my dissertation focused on understanding the relationship between Type 2 Diabetes and the development of Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology (Bonds et al., Journal of Neuroscience, 2019).

Following my doctoral work, I conducted postdoctoral training under John A. Kessler, M.D., in the Department of Neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (2018–2021). My research in the Kessler laboratory examined the molecular mechanisms that regulate neural stem cell proliferation, differentiation, and repair in the injured and aging brain (Bonds et al., eNeuro, 2023). 

I subsequently joined the laboratory of Brian P. Head, Ph.D., at the VA San Diego Healthcare System and University of California, San Diego, as a postdoctoral fellow, where my work expanded to investigate neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the role of membrane microdomain signaling in neuronal survival and metabolism. During this time, I also collaborated with Hemal H. Patel, Ph.D., exploring the cellular and molecular effects of meditation and mind–body practices on stress resilience and neural health (2021-2024).

Here at USD, I have established a laboratory focused on investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neural stem cell regulation, with an emphasis on neurogenesis, mitochondrial function, and membrane signaling pathways that support resilience and cognitive health. In addition to my research, I am deeply committed to undergraduate education, teaching courses in neuroscience, neurodiversity, and behavioral neurobiology. Mentoring student researchers and helping them develop their scientific curiosity, technical skills, and confidence remains one of the most rewarding aspects of my career.