Susan L. Ackerman Ph.D. is a Professor at Jackson Laboratory. She earned her B.A.in chemistry and biology from California State University, Chico and her Ph.D. in zoology from University of California, Los Angeles. Her research is focused on understanding the molecular and genetic mechanisms behind neurodegenerate diseases. She is also an adjunct professor at University of Maine, Orono and an Associate Geneticist at Massachusetts General Hospital.