The Ren Group

Laboratory of Single-Cell and Single-Molecule Epigenetics and Chromatin

The Ren lab was set up in September 2012. Since then the lab has been working on pushing the limits of single-molecule fluorescence microscopy methods to study epigenetic regulators in native states and in living cells. The Ren lab is using live-cell single-molecule tracking (SMT) to dissect the chromatin-binding mechanisms of epigenetic factors. The lab developed a new single-molecule chromatin immunoprecipitation imaging (Sm-ChIPi) approach that enables measuring the molecular interactions and stoichiometry of epigenetic regulators at chromatin in cell extracts.

The Knight Group

The Knight lab studies how proteins interact with cellular membrane surfaces using a variety of biochemical, spectroscopic, and microscopy-based approaches. We are particularly interested in proteins that carry out important steps in the pathway of insulin secretion and how these processes are disrupted in diabetes. Interested students are invited to email Dr. Knight a brief statement of your interest in research including career goals, a CV/resume, and an unofficial transcript.

The Vugmeyster Group

Vugmeyster’s lab focuses on  biophysical characterization of proteins using  solution and solid-state NMR, Transmission Electron Microscopy, Dynamics Light Scattering,  HPLC and other approaches. In particular, we are interested in protein dynamics in model systems and in amyloid fibrils comprised of amyloid-beta protein, implicated in Alzheimer’s Disease.   Undergraduate and master-level research students are trained on protein preparation and purification techniques, amyloid fibrils preparation, spectroscopic approaches, and computational modeling. Please see group web page for details.