Where RNA Biology Meets Virology

Our lab is interested in understanding how RNA binding proteins find their targets inside a cell, and how that process is shaped by location, timing, and changes in cell state. One of the clearest ways to study this is through RNA viruses, which depend on host RNA binding proteins to replicate, often hijacking them away from their normal role, and giving us a natural and powerful way to uncover new biology. We develop new tools — combining sequencing, proteomic tagging, and imaging — to observe these interactions in specific places inside the cell, during infection and cellular stress. We also apply what we learn toward therapeutic goals, such as designing RNA molecules that can silence or correct genes that cause disease, or building systems that continuously report on cellular transcriptomes, and more.

Our lab draws on multiple disciplines, including virology, RNA biology, computational biology, synthetic biology, and molecular and cell biology, among others. If you’re interested in joining us, get in touch!