Faculty

Program affiliation
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Plant and Microbial Biosciences

Research summary
Pathogenesis of multidrug resistant bacteria and biogenesis of bacterial vesicles in the human gut

Key words

Program affiliation
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Molecular Cell Biology

Research summary
Our lab studies how disease-associated histone mutations disrupt chromatin and epigenetic regulation, contributing to developmental disorders, brain inflammation, and cancer. We take a multidisciplinary approach that combines biochemical and genomic assays, molecular genetics, cell biology, and both Drosophila and mouse models to investigate how these mutations impair development and drive tumorigenesis. Current projects focus on neurodevelopmental disorders, cancer-associated histone mutations, chromatin–immune crosstalk, and the discovery of chromatin-associated factors. Through this work, we aim to uncover fundamental mechanisms of chromatin dysregulation and identify new therapeutic targets.

Key words
Chromatin, Epigenetics, Gene Regulation, Cancer, Developmental Disorders, Brain Inflammation

Program affiliation
Immunology
Molecular Cell Biology
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis

Research summary
We are examining the role of the autophagy pathway in the function of the retina and its role in diseases of the eye

Key words
angiogenesis, apoptosis, autophagy, immunology, lymphocyte, tolerance, photoreceptors, vision,

Program affiliation
Cancer Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Immunology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Research summary
We use both mouse models and patient samples of acute myloid leukemia to understand leukemogenesis and to identify novel therapeutic targets.

Key words

Program affiliation
Plant and Microbial Biosciences
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Research summary
Microbial biogeochemistry and metabolic stable isotopic (C/N/S) fractionation

Key words
microbial biogeochemistry, stable isotope geochemistry, microbial mats, carbon cycling, sulfur cycling, Earth history

Program affiliation
Molecular Cell Biology

Research summary
Identify novel target pathways for therapeutic treatment of obesity-related diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and fatty liver disease

Key words
diabetes, fatty acid, insulin, cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease, mitochondria

Program affiliation
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Research summary
Medical helminthology, especially filariasis and other neglected tropical diseases caused by parasitic worms.

Key words
helminths, parasitology, tropical medicine,

Program affiliation
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Plant and Microbial Biosciences

Research summary
Molecular investigation of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC)

Key words
enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli; microbial pathogenesis; vaccine development; diarrheal disease

Program affiliation
Computational and Systems Biology
Immunology
Cancer Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Biomedical Informatics and Data Science

Research summary
My research interests lie in integrating and applying novel computational biology techniques with mechanistic experimental immunology to understand drivers of response and resistance to NK cell therapies for cancer

Key words
natural killer cells, computational biology, single-cell sequencing, immunotherapy, nk cells

Program affiliation
Neurosciences
Computational and Systems Biology

Research summary

Key words