Research

Imaging Transcriptomes

To reveal the microscale world of bacteria, we are developing cutting-edge spatial transcriptomics techniques. Built on automated microscopy and microfluidics, our approaches provide single-cell and even subcellular resolution views of gene expression, directly within the native physical context

Single Cell Physiology

Even within a clonal population, individual bacteria differ from one another in ways that help them withstand challenges like antibiotic treatment. We study this hidden heterogeneity to understand the physiology and life cycle of pathogenic bacteria.

Microbial Multicellularity

Various bacterial lineages evolved obligate multicellular lifestyles characterized by division of labor, persistent cell–cell adhesion, and regulated developmental cycles. We are interested in learning how individuality is reconciled with multicellularity, asking how cell-to-cell differences give rise to coordinated collective behaviors.

Regulating with RNA

Bacterial RNAs organize, sense, and regulate—shaping cell physiology beyond simple information transfer. We explore how RNAs localize inside cells and how riboregulators control gene expression, aiming to reveal their mechanisms of action.