Biography

Gina L. C. Yosten, Ph.D., is a Professor and the Kummer Endowed Chair of biological sciences at Missouri S&T. She earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Zoology/Biomedical Science from the University of Oklahoma and a PhD in Pharmacology and Physiology from Saint Louis University School of Medicine. During Following completion of fellowship training at Saint Louis University and the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Dr. Yosten joined the faculty in pharmacology and physiology at SLU School of Medicine, where she quickly rose through the ranks to Full Professor with tenure. She is an active member of the American Physiological Society, for which she currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors. She previously served the Society as the Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative, and Comparative Physiology. Her lab is and has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Helmsley Charitable Trust, the Foundation for Prader Willi Research, and the Breakthrough T1D foundation.

Research

G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the most abundant receptor family encoded by the human genome. They are an integral part of every biological process performed by our cells and thus are an essential part of multi-cellular life. My group studies how GPCRs contribute to the normal functioning of endocrine and metabolic systems, as well as how their dysfunction leads to human diseases, including type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and their associated complications. By incorporating a cutting-edge spatial omics technique, called spatial molecular imaging, we are able to evaluate how molecular coordinates of GPCRs correspond to their function. Our overall goal is to utilize our combination of techniques to identify better therapeutic targets for human metabolic and endocrine diseases.

Education

• 2004-B.S. in Zoology/Biomedical Sciences-University of Oklahoma
• 2010-Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Physiology-Saint Louis University School of Medicine
• 2013-Postdoctoral Fellowship in Pharmacology and Physiology-Saint Louis University School of Medicine
• 2013-American Physiological Society-Sponsored Research Enhancement Fellowship in Physiology-University of Mississippi Medical Center

Professional Positions

• 2001-2004-Undergraduate Research Assistant-University of Oklahoma
• 2004-2006-Research Technician-Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
• 2006-2010-Graduate Research Assistant-Saint Louis University School of Medicine
• 2010-2013-Postdoctoral Fellow-Saint Louis University School of Medicine
• 2013-2015-Assistant Research Professor-Saint Louis University School of Medicine
• 2015-2020-Assistant Professor, Tenure Track-Saint Louis University School of Medicine
• 2020-2024-Associate Professor with Tenure-Saint Louis University School of Medicine
• 2024-2025-Full Professor-Saint Louis University School of Medicine
• 2025-Present-Professor and Kummer Endowed Chair-Missouri S&T