Marie Mooney, PhD

Marie Mooney, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Bioinformatics at the University of North Florida, where she leads the MoonLIGHT (Mooney Laboratory for Informatics, Genomics, Health, and Technology) and conducts research at the intersection of cell and molecular genetics, computational biology, and biomedical data science. With more than 20 years of experience in science and research, she specializes in genomics, bioinformatics, and translational biomedical research, with a focus on advancing therapeutic discovery and improving health outcomes, particularly in nervous system development and disease.

Dr. Mooney’s academic path includes a PhD in Cell and Molecular Genetics from the Van Andel Institute Graduate School, a Master of Science in Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati, and a Bachelor’s degree in Bioinformatics from Michigan Technological University. Her career spans academic and research institutions such as Duke University School of Medicine, Northwestern University, and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, where she contributed to computational pipeline development, high-throughput genomics, and drug discovery initiatives using both laboratory and data-driven approaches.

In addition to her research and teaching, Dr. Mooney is deeply committed to mentorship and scientific outreach. She actively mentors young women in STEM through programs such as Generation WOW, helping middle and high school students explore science careers and develop confidence in their academic paths. She has also played a key role in building research infrastructure, including establishing her own laboratory, and is an advocate for connecting creativity with scientific inquiry. Her work reflects a strong commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, mentorship, and expanding opportunities in science despite ongoing challenges in higher education funding and research support.