Alex Seaver, Ph.D. Candidate

Alex Seaver is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Cell & Molecular program

Alex Seaver earned his Bachelor of Arts in Molecular Biology with a concentration in Scientific Computing at Kenyon College in 2017. After graduation, he worked at Peddie School in Hightstown, NJ where he taught sophomore Biology and coached swimming. Additionally, he worked for a year at Meadowbrook Swim Club in Baltimore, MD where he served as a manager and licensed Pool Operator.

Alex began at Lehigh in Fall 2019 where he rotated in the Iovine and Falk labs before joining the Iovine lab at the end of his first year. His work there has focused on understanding the pathways upstream of the gap junction protein Connexin43 in regulating joint-formation pathways in the regenerating zebrafish fin. 

His work published in Bioelectricity characterized retinoic acid as a potential upstream regulator of connexin43 transcription as well as having a role in the transcription of the joint transcription factor evx1. He found that inhibition of retinoic acid signaling leads to premature joint formation and a decrease in the transcription of connexin43. His thesis work seeks to further understand the role of retinoic acid as well as other potential regulators such as calcineurin in regulating known joint formation pathways.

Outside of the lab, Alex served as the treasurer of the Biological Organization of Graduate Students (BOGS) in academic year 2020-2021 and currently serves as president of BOGS where he focuses on improving graduate student experiences within the PhD program. Additionally, he received the Marjorie Nemes fellowship in Spring 2023, as well as in Spring 2024, on the basis of demonstrated excellence in research and progress toward his PhD. During his time at Lehigh, Alex has presented posters at both regional and international zebrafish conferences.

When not at Lehigh, Alex enjoys nature photography, cycling, writing, and travel. He lives near Lansdale, PA with his wife, Sarah, and cat, Simon.

The research in the Iovine Lab is funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health