Mandë Holford’s Laboratory of Chemical and Biological Diversity studies venoms and venomous animals as agents of molecular change and medicinal innovations. Specifically, she is interested in how venoms direct the evolution of organisms and how they can improve human lives. Her current research is focused on investigating venom compounds and venom systems to study the origins of complex traits and novelty of rapidly evolving genes, and to develop in vitro invertebrate venom gland cell model systems that can be genetically manipulated to advance discoveries in arms-race gene regulation, expression, function, and therapeutic drug discovery. Dr. Holford co-founded Killer Snails, LLC, an award-winning EdTech company that uses tabletop, digital, and XR games about nature as a conduit to advance scientific learning in K-12 classrooms.