Claudia Baumann Head, Ph.D.
Area(s) of Expertise: Genetics, Epigenetics, Carcinogenesis & Genome Instability, Chromatin Biology, Genomics, Environmental Toxicology, Reproduction, Developmental Biology, Regenerative Medicine
Overview
Dr. Baumann Head grew up in Germany. After receiving her Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology in 2004, she moved to the U.S. to conduct research at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Animal Transgenesis and Germ Cell Research as a postdoctoral fellow. She later became a Senior Research Associate and Adjunct Professor at the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine, where she enjoyed both research and instruction of undergraduate, graduate and veterinary students inside the classroom as well as in the laboratory. She is a molecular biologist with extensive experience and training in developmental and reproductive biology and has a broad background in genetics and epigenetics.
Dr. Baumann Head is passionate about inspiring the next generation of scientists, inventors and discoverers. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her husband and children, her rescue pup Snuggles and enjoys the outdoors, traveling and crafts.
Work Experience
- Assistant Professor of Biology, University of North Georgia, College of Science and Mathematics, Dahlonega, GA, August 2026 – present
- Adjunct Professor, University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, April 2014 – August 2026
- Senior Research Associate, University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA, April 2010 – August 2026
- Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, April 2004 – April 2010
Courses Taught
- BIOL 1107K – Principles of Biology I
- BIOL 2251K – Human Anatomy and Physiology I
Education
- Ph.D., Charité University Hospital Berlin/Free University Berlin, Germany 2004
- M.S., University of Heidelberg, Germany, 1999
Research/Special Interests
- Investigating the Nanoscale Chromatin Architecture in Mammalian Stem Cells via 3D Expansion Microscopy:
- The aim of this project is to a) establish a reproducible protocol for isolating primary tissues and converting them into expandable 3D hydrogels using a modified physical expansion workflow, and b) to characterize DNA configuration within 3D expanded stem cell nuclei to monitor changes during differentiation into functional derivatives using cutting-edge laboratory techniques and state-of-the-art imaging resources available at UNG and UGA.
- Exploring the Effects of Environmental Toxins on Chromatin Structure and Function Through Integrative Super-Resolution Imaging and Genome-Wide Next Generation Sequencing Analyses:
- This project aims to identify early key changes in the packaged structural form of DNA occurring in response to toxicological insults on the digestive system originating from our food supply by a) establishing methodologies to derive primary tissues or cultured specimen and b) utilizing Super-Resolution Structured Illumination Microscopy and epigenomic analyses, including Immunochemistry and select Next Generation Sequencing approaches (e.g. CUT&TAG).
Research Contributions:
Dr. Baumann Head’s research efforts have long focused on large-scale chromatin structure and function in stem and germ cells of several mammalian species during aging and in response to environmental toxins. In the quest to unravel key factors involved in maintaining genome stability and proper chromosome dynamics, her contributions have been critical to understand the functional implications of chromatin remodeling proteins in epigenetic landscapes and nanoscale chromatin organization. She has generated numerous transgenic animal models, established cutting-edge live cell imaging and cytogenetic approaches, and has implemented a multitude of molecular techniques for the analysis of rare/sparse cell types, such as real-time chromatin tracking in live cells and a variety of genome-wide sequencing assays for the study of chromatin accessibility, epigenetic landscapes and transcriptomic profiles.
Publications
Zhang X, Baumann C, De La Fuente R. Fluo-Cast-Bright: a deep learning pipeline for the non-invasive prediction of chromatin structure and developmental potential in live oocytes. Commun Biol. 2025 Jan 29;8(1):141. doi: 10.1038/s42003-025-07568-0. PubMed PMID: 39880880; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11779945.
Simmons AD, Baumann C, Zhang X, Kamp TJ, De La Fuente R, Palecek SP. Integrated multi-omics analysis identifies features that predict human pluripotent stem cell-derived progenitor differentiation to cardiomyocytes. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2024 Nov;196:52-70. doi: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2024.08.007. Epub 2024 Sep 1. PubMed PMID: 39222876; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11534572.
Baumann C, Zhang X, Kandasamy MK, Mei X, Chen S, Tehrani KF, Mortensen LJ, Watford W, Lall A, De La Fuente R. Acute irradiation induces a senescence-like chromatin structure in mammalian oocytes. Commun Biol. 2023 Dec 12;6(1):1258. doi: 10.1038/s42003-023-05641-0. PubMed PMID: 38086992; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10716162.
Baumann C, Zhang X, Viveiros MM, De La Fuente R. Pericentric major satellite transcription is essential for meiotic chromosome stability and spindle pole organization. Open Biol. 2023 Nov;13(11):230133. doi: 10.1098/rsob.230133. Epub 2023 Nov 8. PubMed PMID: 37935356; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10645078.
Yang L, Baumann C, De La Fuente R, Viveiros MM. Bisphenol Exposure Disrupts Cytoskeletal Organization and Development of Pre-Implantation Embryos. Cells. 2022 Oct 14;11(20). doi: 10.3390/cells11203233. PubMed PMID: 36291100; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9600733.
Baumann C, Zhang X, Zhu L, Fan Y, De La Fuente R. Changes in chromatin accessibility landscape and histone H3 core acetylation during valproic acid-induced differentiation of embryonic stem cells. Epigenetics Chromatin. 2021 Dec 27;14(1):58. doi: 10.1186/s13072-021-00432-5. PubMed PMID: 34955095; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8711205.
Wang X, Baumann C, De La Fuente R, Viveiros MM. Loss of acentriolar MTOCs disrupts spindle pole Aurora A and assembly of the liquid-like meiotic spindle domain in oocytes. J Cell Sci. 2021 Jul 15;134(14). doi: 10.1242/jcs.256297. Epub 2021 Jul 20. PubMed PMID: 34152366; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8325960.
Baumann C, Zhang X, De La Fuente R. Loss of CBX2 induces genome instability and senescence-associated chromosomal rearrangements. J Cell Biol. 2020 Nov 2;219(11). doi: 10.1083/jcb.201910149. PubMed PMID: 32870972; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7594495.
Baumann C, Ma W, Wang X, Kandasamy MK, Viveiros MM, De La Fuente R. Helicase LSH/Hells regulates kinetochore function, histone H3/Thr3 phosphorylation and centromere transcription during oocyte meiosis. Nat Commun. 2020 Sep 8;11(1):4486. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-18009-3. PubMed PMID: 32900989; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7478982.
Yang L, Baumann C, De La Fuente R, Viveiros MM. Mechanisms underlying disruption of oocyte spindle stability by bisphenol compounds. Reproduction. 2020 Apr;159(4):383-396. doi: 10.1530/REP-19-0494. PubMed PMID: 31990668; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7032969.
Wang X, Baumann C, De La Fuente R, Viveiros MM. CEP215 and AURKA regulate spindle pole focusing and aMTOC organization in mouse oocytes. Reproduction. 2020 Mar;159(3):261-274. doi: 10.1530/REP-19-0263. PubMed PMID: 31895686; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7030940.
Baumann C, Wang X, Yang L, Viveiros MM. Error-prone meiotic division and subfertility in mice with oocyte-conditional knockdown of pericentrin. J Cell Sci. 2017 Apr 1;130(7):1251-1262. doi: 10.1242/jcs.196188. Epub 2017 Feb 13. PubMed PMID: 28193732; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6518315.
Text Book Chapters:
De La Fuente R., Baumann C., Viveiros M.M.: Epigenetics in Human Reproduction and Development. Anna K Naumova, Teruko Taketo (eds.), World Scientific Publishing Co., Feb 2017
Baumann C., De La Fuente R., Viveiros M.M.: Oocyte Physiology and Development in Domestic Species: 1st Edition. R. Krishner (ed.) John Wiley & Sons. Ltd, London, U.K., 2013.
De La Fuente R., Baumann C., Viveiros MM. Chromatin structure and ATRX function in mouse oocytes. Results Probl Cell Differ. 1st Edition J. Kubiak (ed.) Springer, Berlin Heidelberg 2012;55:45-68.
De La Fuente R., Baumann C., Viveiros MM. Role of ATRX in chromatin structure and function: implications for chromosome instability and human disease. Reproduction 2011, 142(2):221-34.
De La Fuente R., Baumann, C., Yang, F. and Viveiros M.M.: Chromatin Remodeling in Mammalian Meiosis. Oogenesis: The Universal process of Oogenesis: 1st Edition. M. H. Verlhac (eds.). John Wiley & Sons. Ltd, London, U.K., 2010.