Research Labs
Introduction
Explore cutting-edge research in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics through our state-of-the-art research labs, where innovative investigations and scientific advancements take place.
Research Labs
| Ackerman Lab | Transcriptional mechanisms regulating hematopoietic (myeloid) development and gene expression. Eosinophil effector functions in asthma and other allergic diseases, tissue remodeling, and fibrosis. Biochemistry, cell and structural biology of eosinophil protein mediators of inflammation. |
| Benevolenskaya Lab | Mechanisms of promotion of differentiation by retinoblastoma protein (pRB), the role of histone demethylases RBP2 and PLU1 in cell fate determination and differentiation in mammalian cells. Global analysis of the transcriptional network regulated by RBP2-related proteins. |
| Caffrey Lab | Biochemical and NMR studies are directed at elucidating the structure and mechanisms of viral proteins, development of novel sensors of viruses, antiviral therapeutics. |
| Chronis Lab | Delineating principles of Stem Cell and iPSC biology and Developmental lineage choice. TF-driven mechanisms that determine cell fate specification during mammalian development, cellular reprogramming, and cancer. |
| Frolov Lab | Role of RB tumor suppressor pathway in development and cancer. Single-cell genomics. |
| Gaponenko Lab | Biophysical and biochemical characterization of macromolecular interactions with an emphasis on cancer-related proteins, structure based drug discovery and design |
| Hay Lab | Mechanisms of cell survival, cell cycle control, metabolism, and genesis of cancer. The PI3K/PTEN/AKT/mTOR signaling. The function of Akt isoforms at the cellular and organismal levels. |
| Jun Lab | Wound repair and regeneration, immune regulation, inflammation, cell signaling |
| Kuchay Lab | Regulation of proteostasis at cellular membranes by ubiquitin ligases and a newly identified GGTase 3. Functional involvement in diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease and metabolic disease. |
| Lavie Lab | Structure-based design of novel therapeutic agents by prodrug development and enzyme modifications. X-ray crystallographic structure determination of enzymes involved in prodrug activation. |
| Markiewicz-Potoczny Lab | The role of early embryonic genes in telomere maintenance in stem cells and cancer |
| Merrill Lab | Mammalian stem cell and developmental biology, WNT signaling, Genome Editing. |
| Nakamura Lab | Roles of Checkpoint Proteins and Chromatin Modifications in Genome Stability, DNA Repair and Telomere Maintenance. |
| Qiu Lab | Computational biology, artificial intelligence, systems biology, single-cell genomics, protein engineering. |
| Raychaudhuri Lab | Regulation of mammalian cell cycle, cancer biology, transcription factors |
| Rehman Lab | Cell biology, bioinformatics, Alzheimer’s disease, inflammation and immunity, viral and bacterial infections, metabolism of cancer cells, vascular cells, stem cells and organoids. |
| Salahudeen Lab | Lung Cancer; Head And Neck Cancer; Squamous Cancers; Neoplasia; Progenitor Cell Plasticity, single cell and spatial transcriptomics |
| Segev Lab | From Yeast to Human Cells and Disease: 1) Regulation and Coordination of Trafficking Inside Cells: secretion, endocytosis, and autophagy; 2) Neurological Disorders (neurodevelopmental and neurodegeneration)-associated mutations in highly conserved genes |
| Shikano Lab | Protein interactions direct the selective sorting of membrane proteins, Regulation of GPCRs, cell signaling |
| Tyner Lab | Regulation of epithelial cell differentiation Cell cycle regulation in regenerating tissues. |
Professors/Labs accepting GEMS rotation students
PIs accepting rotation students.
Elizaveta Benevolenskaya
Professor
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Maxim Frolov
Professor
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Email:
Vadim Gaponenko
Professor
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Joonil Jun
Assistant Professor
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Email:
Marta Markiewicz-Potoczny
Assistant Professor
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Brad Merrill
Professor
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Yuchi Qiu
Assistant Professor
Email:
Jalees Rehman
Benjamin Goldberg Professor and Head
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Email:
Nava Segev
Distinguished Professor
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Rotation Project Description
| Lab | GEMS Research Concentration | Rotation Project Name | Project Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benevolenskaya | Molecular Biology and Genetics Cancer Biology | Epigenetic regulation of drug tolerance to anti-cancer therapies | We are studying the effect of the histone demethylase KDM5A on cell tolerance to targeted therapies using cell biology assays informed by single-cell RNA and chromatin sequencing. In particular, we are interested in better understanding of the KDM5A role in cell plasticity. |
| Frolov | Molecular Biology and Genetics Cancer Biology | To investigate how the Retinoblastoma (RB) and Hippo tumor suppressor pathways regulate cell proliferation and differentiation in Drosophila | To analyze cell proliferation and differentiation in RB and Hippo mutant tissues using immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. To explore single-cell genomics data from RB and Hippo mutant tissues generated in the lab with the Seurat computational pipeline. Recent publications: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/maxim.frolov.1/bibliography/public/ |
| Gaponenko | Molecular Biology and Genetics | What is the mechanism of biased antagonism? | Exploring the binding sites of biased antagonists within chemokine receptors. |
| Markiewicz-Potoczny | Molecular Biology and Genetics Cancer Biology Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine | The role of early embryonic genes in telomere maintenance in stem cells and cancer | Zscan4, a gene highly expressed at very early stages of embryogenesis, was found expressed in 1-2% of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) in vitro culture. Interestingly, this gene is overexpressed in response to DNA damage caused by chemicals that induce DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Zscan4 was shown to protect the genome integrity, and to promote telomere elongation in mESCs. Can Zscan4 be activated in response to, specifically, telomeric damage? This project will involved mESCs culture, immunofluorescence experiments and microscopy, validation of Zscan4 expression by qPCR, western blotting for protein levels. |
| Merrill | Molecular Biology and Genetics Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine | New SynBio tools for directing differentiation of stem cells | We will be inventing new nucleic acid based tools that use CRISPR-derived enzymes to deliver sophisticated sets of genetic instruction to stem cells. They will share some similarities with the proGuides that we recently described (https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.09.17.613466, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2020.12.003). New designs will seek improvements for how they can control a program of gene regulation in individual cells. Projects will involve recombinant DNA techniques, cell culture, and flow cytometry. |
| Segev | Cancer Biology Molecular Biology and Genetics Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine Neurobiology | Trafficking inside cells: from yeast to human cells and disease | Using cell, molecular and genetic analyses to follow aberrant protein accumulation and clearance |
GEMS Information
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Many of our faculty members accept undergraduate students to participate in their research projects.