[1] She received her undergraduate degree in biology from St. Olaf College in 1979 and a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from Duke University.
[3] In 1994, she moved to Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) who were recruiting experts in cell cycle control.
[4] She was subsequently appointed the Gerty T. Cori Professor and Chair of Cell Biology and Physiology and Professor of Internal Medicine, and served as the associate director of Basic Science at the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center.
[6] As a result of her research, Piwnica-Worms was promoted to head of the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology at Washington University School of Medicine in 2011.
[8] During this time, she was also elected a member of the National Academy of Medicine for advancing the understanding and treatment of cancer.