Dr. Camper received her BA in Chemistry from U. Delaware, her PhD in Biochemistry from Michigan State University, and conducted postdoctoral work at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH, the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, PA, and at Princeton University in Princeton, NJ. She joined the faculty at University of Michigan in 1988 as an Assistant Professor, established the Transgenic Animal Model Core facility, and rose through the ranks to become the Margery W. Shaw Distinguished University Professor of Human Genetics, and she served as Department Chair for 11 years (2005-2015).

Dr. Camper studies the genetics of inherited birth defects, particularly those that affect neuroendocrine system development. She was among the pioneers in the use of transgenic mouse models to study developmentally regulated gene-expression that result in human genetic disorders. She studies human patients and genetically modified mice in collaboration with an international group of investigators. Her research seeks to identify genetic causes of hypopituitarism and understand pathophysiological mechanisms. She has contributed to understanding how transcription factors and signaling pathways regulate hypothalamic and pituitary gland development. She received the Roy O. Greep award for outstanding research from the Endocrine Society, a Merit award from the National Institutes of Health, and, from University of Michigan, the Faculty Recognition Award and the Distinguished Faculty Lectureship Award in Biomedical Research. She was elected as a Fellow for the American Academy for the Advancement of Science.