Faculty Labs

Learn more about our faculty research labs

Our faculty are involved in cutting-edge research in biochemistry, genetics, cell biology, and developmental biology. You can contact our faculty directly to learn more about their research.

Balakrishnan Lab

The current research in our laboratory is focused on understanding the mechanistic reactions of eukaryotic lagging strand DNA synthesis, and the accompanying DNA repair processes. Lab director: Lata Balakrishnan

Barrett Lab

The Barrett lab is focused on understanding how the insect nervous system changes in response to cognitive demands and allometric constraints as well as the welfare needs of insects farmed as food and feed.

Belecky-Adams Lab

My lab is focused on understanding the roles of a large family of proteins, known as the TGF-Beta family of growth factors, in the differentiation and patterning of the vertebrate eye. Lab director: Teri Belecky-Adams

Berbari Lab

Current work in the lab focuses on the roles of small hair-like cellular appendages called cilia. We are particularly interested in their roles in the brain. Lab director: Nicolas Berbari

Blazer-Yost Lab

Our current research is directed toward finding treatments for two diseases, Hydrocephalus and Polycystic Kidney Disease. Both of these diseases involve abnormal control of fluid and salt homeostasis. Lab director: Bonnie Blazer-Yost

Cummins Lab

My lab uses electrophysiological, molecular biological, biochemical, imaging and computer modeling techniques to study how specific ion channels contribute to excitability and pathophysiological conditions. Lab director: Ted Cummins

Dai Lab

My research interests focus on two major aspects. The first is to understand the mechanisms governing liver regeneration. The second is to understand how maternal liver adapts to pregnancy. Lab director: Guoli Dai

Li Lab

My research interests are in bone cell biology and bone regeneration. Lab director: Jiliang Li

Marrs Lab

My research laboratory uses zebrafish to model fetal alcohol syndrome. Lab director: James Marrs

Mastracci Lab

My lab studies the mechanisms that regulate pancreas development with the idea that this will shed light on the key steps necessary to regenerate the beta cells lost in individuals with diabetes. Lab director: Teresa Mastracci

Perrin Lab

My lab studies how the hair cell bundle is maintained and repaired at a molecular level. Lab director: Benjamin Perrin

Picard Lab

The lab’s main research interests concern the population genetics and genomics of forensically important insects. Lab director: Christine Picard

Randall Lab

My laboratory uses biochemistry and molecular genetics to characterize molecular mechanisms by which plants respond and adapt to environmental stresses such as cold and drought conditions. Lab director: Stephen Randall

Roper Lab

Our research seeks to understand the genetic and developmental bases of phenotypes related to Trisomy 21 or Down syndrome (DS). Lab director: Randall Roper

Walsh Lab

The goal of the lab is to enhance our understanding of the genetic basis of human physical appearance and ancestry. Lab director: Susan Walsh

Wang Lab

My research is focused on how changing global environments, particularly higher temperature and increasing carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere, will affect the physiology and growth of plants. I also study how invasive exotic plant species adapt and respond to changing environmental conditions. Lab director: Xianzhong Wang

Watson Lab

One of the long-standing goals of my research is to understand how plants move. Plant movements are important for example in optimizing the ability of a plant’s leaves to photosynthesize or for roots to avoid obstacles in the soil. We have studied a set of regulatory molecules called protein kinases that control these processes. We used molecular, biochemical, physiological, and genetic approaches to elucidate the key roles these kinases play in plant motion. Lab director: John Watson