Research

The Form and Function of Disordered Proteins

The overarching theme of my research endeavors has been my fascination with intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs).

You may ask: What can proteins that don’t even fold and readily crash out of solution possibly be good for?

I’ve been asking myself that question a lot, too. I’ve been using protein biochemistry, genetic screens, microscopes, computers and flow cytometers to find answers.

It turns out, IDPs have many crucial functions across biological scales. I’m still exploring, but here is what I’ve learned on my adventures into the dark proteome so far:

1. The Mechanism of Nuclear Pore Passage

In the Görlich lab, I demonstrated that FG nucleoporins spontaneously self-assemble into a highly selective barrier via a deeply conserved mechanism. My research contributed to the 2025 Lasker Award.

I also worked with the Mizielinska and Holehouse labs to uncover that ALS/FTD-associated dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs) disrupt passive nucleocytoplasmic transport by tuning protein affinity for the nuclear pore barrier.

2. The (Patho)Biophysics of RNA-Binding Proteins

In the Rohatgi lab, I decoded how the biological function of RNA-binding proteins is mechanistically linked to their biophysical state in health and disease.

Throughout the years, I collaborated with the Fawzi, Gitler, and Milovanovic labs in this research area.

3. Drugging Biomolecular Condensates

Together with the Brandman lab, I showed that the cancer drug oxaliplatin inhibits rRNA transcription by disintegrating nucleoli.

4. I/O Logic of Transcription Factors

In the Rohatgi lab, I helped to show that the highly-disordered transcription factor NFAT5 directly senses hypertonic stress via a phase separation mechanism.

I also studied Gli transcription factors and collaborated with the Sukenik lab.

5. Protein Engineering

I’m working with the Lanz lab on designing disordered linkers to unlock new bivalent antibody formats.

6. Non-Model Model Organisms

I’m also passionate about uncovering fundamental biological mechanisms in the overlooked corners of the evolutionary tree.

In grad school, I studied the molecular mechanism of nuclear dimorphism in the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila.

Together with the Boeynaems and Lasker labs, I’m studying deeply conserved stress response pathways in the early-branching eukaryote Naegleria gruberi.