Zemer Gitai · Biochemistry
Professor Zemer Gitai's lab at Princeton University focuses on developing innovative strategies to tackle antibiotic resistance and enhance our understanding of microbe-host interactions. Using advanced techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing, the lab investigates how bacteria communicate with their hosts and seeks to create novel antibiotics and therapies that can help combat infections while minimizing resistance. This research combines expertise in microbiology, immunology, and computational biology to establish new methods for studying and manipulating bacterial behaviors.
Carlos D Brody · Neuroscience
Dr. Carlos D Brody's lab at Princeton University studies how the brain processes information related to working memory and decision-making. They aim to understand how different brain regions communicate and coordinate to produce these cognitive functions. By using advanced techniques in neuroscience, including brain imaging and computational modeling, the lab investigates how neural circuits contribute to behaviors in complex decision-making tasks.
Michelle Chan · Biochemistry
Dr. Michelle Chan's lab at Princeton University is focused on understanding how mammalian cells differentiate from pluripotent stem cells into specific cell types, like neurons or muscle. By creating comprehensive cell fate maps, her team aims to reveal the intricate pathways of differentiation, which might lead to advancements in cellular therapies for diseases such as Parkinson's and diabetes. The lab primarily employs innovative techniques like CRISPR genome editing and single-cell RNA sequencing to trace cell lineages and analyze the data computationally.
Elizabeth Gould · Psychology
The research lab led by Elizabeth Gould at Princeton University focuses on understanding how early life adversity and neurodevelopmental disorders like autism spectrum disorder affect brain function. The lab studies the roles of perineuronal nets, steroid hormones, and neuronal signaling in the hippocampus, which is crucial for social recognition and emotional regulation. By using advanced techniques on transgenic mouse models, they aim to uncover potential therapeutic targets that could help restore brain function and improve mental health outcomes.
Robert R Knowles · Chemistry
Robert R Knowles' research lab at Princeton University focuses on developing innovative synthetic methods that utilize excited-state chemistry. By harnessing light to drive chemical reactions, his team explores new ways to synthesize complex organic molecules, which could lead to advancements in drug development and other areas of chemistry. They are also working on techniques that enhance reactions that involve the conversion of certain chemical bonds, aiming to improve how we create valuable compounds.
Mohammad R Seyedsayamdost · Engineering
Professor Seyedsayamdost's lab at Princeton University focuses on discovering and developing new anticancer agents from microbes. The research involves exploring microbial natural products that aren't typically produced in the lab, using innovative techniques to stimulate their growth, and synthesizing new variants to enhance their effectiveness. The goal is to uncover potent compounds that can serve as treatments for cancer.
Tom Muir · Chemistry
Dr. Tom Muir's research lab at Princeton University focuses on innovative protein manipulation techniques that utilize inteins, which are naturally occurring segments of proteins. The lab is engaged in developing tools for protein splicing that can reveal and modify complex biological systems, particularly in the context of epigenetics and chromatin biology. This research aims to enhance our understanding of disease processes and improve biotechnological applications.
Thomas J. Silhavy · Biochemistry
Dr. Thomas J. Silhavy's lab at Princeton University focuses on understanding how Gram-negative bacteria, like E. coli, construct and maintain their outer membrane. This work is crucial because the outer membrane acts as a protective barrier, and better understanding its biology can lead to new antibiotic treatments that target these bacteria. The lab studies various proteins and mechanisms involved in outer membrane biogenesis and transport, with an aim to uncover how these processes can be manipulated for potential therapeutic applications.
Ilana Witten · Neuroscience
Dr. Ilana Witten's research focuses on understanding why people behave differently in similar situations, a question that intersects both nature and nurture. By studying dopamine neurons in the brain, her lab investigates how individual differences arise from unique reward associations that each person develops in response to their environment. This research could enhance our understanding of neuropsychiatric diseases, which often manifest through these variations in behavior.
Catherine Jensen Pena · Neuroscience
Dr. Catherine Jensen Pena's lab at Princeton University investigates how early life adversity (ELA) affects brain development and influences sensitivity to stress in later life. They explore the role of epigenetic changes, particularly in the chromatin structure of the brain, to understand the biological underpinnings of depression and anxiety. The lab uses innovative techniques and a mouse model to test how these changes may lead to mental health challenges like anxiety and depression.
Celeste M Nelson · Engineering
Dr. Celeste M. Nelson's lab at Princeton University is focused on understanding lung development, specifically the processes that prepare the lungs for breathing after birth. The lab investigates how certain pathways help thin the lung's supportive tissue, which is crucial for the formation of air sacs that facilitate gas exchange. By using advanced imaging, genetic techniques, and mechanical assessments, the lab aims to uncover the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in these processes, especially in cases of prematurity that can affect lung function later in life.
Elizabeth R Gavis · Biochemistry
Elizabeth Gavis's lab at Princeton University studies how messenger RNAs (mRNAs) are controlled during the development of fruit flies (Drosophila). They focus on understanding how mRNAs are localized and regulated to ensure that proteins are produced in the right place and at the right time during embryonic development. Their research has implications for understanding diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, as the rules governing mRNA behavior can reveal why these processes go wrong in various health issues.