During her undergraduate studies at the University of New Mexico, Kirsten Dimmler interned at EquiSeq, where she identified and evaluated mutations in candidate genes associated with equine muscle disease. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2018, she spent two years as a bioinformatics analyst at EquiSeq while also working as a veterinary assistant at a mixed-animal clinic.

At EquiSeq, her work focused on investigating the effects of a missense mutation in the equine COL6A3 gene, which is linked to myopathy in humans. Her work resulted in a patent for the COL6A3 test and three other tests. The US patent was awarded in December 2025.

In 2021, Kirsten joined the University of Minnesota’s Equine Genetics and Genomics Laboratory, where she earned her PhD studying the genetic basis of Equine Recurrent Exertional Rhabdomyolysis (RER) in Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses. Her research focused on developing genomic prediction models using sequencing data and machine learning approaches to identify genetic variants associated with disease risk. This work aims to improve understanding of the genetic architecture of RER and support the development of tools for predicting susceptibility in affected horses.

Kirsten described her work on RER in a webinar, available on YouTube.

Favorite Quote: "Not all those who wander are lost."
– J.R.R. Tolkien (from The Fellowship of the Ring)

You'd be surprised to learn that ... Kirsten has been high-fived by an American Badger.