Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology

Program affiliation
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Neurosciences
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Molecular Cell Biology

Research summary
My lab aims to establish the fundamental principles of intracellular physical chemistry and electrochemical functions of macromolecular complexes, and design synthetic proteins as therapeutics for condensate-dependent diseases.

Key words
molecular biology; physical chemistry; biochemistry; biophysics; synthetic biology; electrochemistry; phase transition; condensates

Program affiliation
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Computational and Systems Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology

Research summary
(1) Dynamics, ecology, and evolution of antibiotic resistance, (2) Engineering enhanced probiotics to treat GI disorders, (3) Engineering microbial biofuel catalysts

Key words
anibiotic resistance, synthetic biology, bioenergy, human microbiome, metagenomics, microbial ecology and biodiversity

Program affiliation
Molecular Cell Biology
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Biomedical Informatics and Data Science

Research summary
Mammalian gene expression: Regulation through mRNA editing and RNA stabilization

Key words
gene expression, RNA, cancer, mRNA editing, mRNA stability

Program affiliation
Neurosciences
Molecular Cell Biology
Immunology
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology

Research summary
Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of protein aggregation and neurodegeneration in Parkinson disease and dementia with Lewy bodies

Key words

Program affiliation
Biomedical Informatics and Data Science
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Computational and Systems Biology
Plant and Microbial Biosciences

Research summary
We integrate metabolic, movement, and community ecology to address core and applied ecological and evolutionary questions. Spanning diverse species and habitats, our research links individual physiology to global biodiversity patterns using theory, data, experiments, and field studies. We aim to understand ecological systems, including human impacts, to inform effective management and policy.

Key words
metabolism, movement ecology, community ecology, behavior, species interactions, human-nature interactions, biogeography, global change, computer vision, eco-informatics, complex systems, biodiversity, great river systems, ecological management

Program affiliation
Molecular Cell Biology
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology

Research summary

Key words

Program affiliation
Plant and Microbial Biosciences
Molecular Cell Biology
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology

Research summary
Molecular mechanisms of cytoskeleton organization and function

Key words
cytoskeleton, molecular motors, cell morphogenesis, cell wall biogenesis, plant biology

Program affiliation
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Molecular Cell Biology
Plant and Microbial Biosciences
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology

Research summary
Biology and pathogenesis of the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans

Key words
biochemistry, biosynthetic pathways, cell biology, eukaryotic pathogen, gene regulation, genomic variants, glycobiology, host-pathogen interactions, microbial pathogenesis, pathogenic fungi, sterol transport, yeast

Program affiliation
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Cancer Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Computational and Systems Biology

Research summary
Cells are not just bags of molecules - they organize their biochemistry in space, often using dynamic compartments called biomolecular condensates. Our lab is asking fundamental questions about the role of condensates in biology, such as: how do condensate environments influence RNA recognition and metabolism? How do they alter the activity of therapeutics? And how do they contribute to oncogenic cell states? We do this using interdisciplinary approaches spanning chemical biology, quantitative cell microscopy, in vitro biophysics, and machine learning. We hope to ultimately uncover how subcellular organization shapes cellular function and how these principles can be harnessed therapeutically.

Key words
condensates, RNA, chemical biology, therapeutics, microscopy, cancer