David Pincus
Principal Investigator
David started his career at UC Berkeley where he earned his BA in neurobiology before moving to UCSF where he earned his PhD in biochemistry. He then continued on as a fellow at Whitehead Institute at MIT, before arriving at the University of Chicago.
David also spends time outside of work seeing live music, trying new restaurants, and parenting.
Asif Ali
Post Doctoral Researcher
Asif is a cell photographer, and he loves capturing photos of cellular proteostatsis factors in action during stress. One of the most remarkable discoveries he has made is that during heat shock, orphan ribosomal proteins form adaptive and reversible chaperone-stirred condensates. This approach is evolutionary conserved that pioneer cells to efficiently resume ribosome biogenesis and growth upon recovery from stress.
Surabhi Chowdhary
Post Doctoral Researcher
Surabhi studies how the 4D nucleome of S. cerevisiae (budding yeast) is remodeled in the prototypical heat shock response (HSR). Using chromosome conformation capture assays and 4D super-resolution imaging, she has evidence that the master transcriptional regulator of the eukaryotic HSR, the Heat Shock Factor 1 (HSF1), forms biophysically dynamic condensates with the transcriptional machinery upon heat shock that drives highly specific intergenic interactions (or coalescence) among HSR genes, even those on different chromosomes. Her current efforts are focused on understanding the mechanisms and functional significance of HSR condensates and the related gene coalescence.
Surabhi appreciates all forms of art, especially painting, music, and dance. She also enjoys being around kids because it helps unleash her inner child.
Sarah Paracha
PhD Candidate – CMB
Sarah’s project is focused on Hsf1 regulation during heat stress. She uses genetic and molecular techniques, as well as microscopy to study the mechanism by which Hsp70 represses Hsf1 activity.
Sarah is also an avid reader, has watched pretty much all the tv shows, and loves to bake/cook.
Annisa Dea
PhD Candidate – CMB
Annisa is interested in the global response to complex environmental perturbations. She uses a mix of classical genetics and quantitative methods to understand how cells store information about their surroundings.
Annisa also enjoys climbing, hiking and taking silly videos of her cat, Pip.
Luke Dyer
PhD Candidate – CMB
Luke is working to recreate the regulation pathway of Hsf1 via Hsp70 in vitro. This will enable him to study the biochemical and biophysical characteristics of the heat shock response.
He also enjoys ceramics and trying and cooking new foods.
Ankita Roychoudhury
PhD Candidate – ChBE Northwestern
Ankita is broadly interested in quantifying the dynamics of cellular growth and adaptation. She hopes to identify basic principles of growth regulation in mammalian cells.
Outside of research, she enjoys tennis, yoga, and hiking!
Maya Igarashi
PhD Candidate – Biophysics
Leah Chaney
PhD Candidate – CMB
Leah is investigating the extent to which environmental cues modulate sporulation in yeast. She is specifically interested in the role of heat shock induced bimolecular condensates as a signal for sporulation. She is co-mentored by Allan Drummond.
Leah also loves traveling to national parks, playing pickleball, and reading.
Lab Alumni
Rania Garde
PhD
Rania worked on characterizing transcriptional induction and feedback regulation in the heat shock response.
Rania is now training to be a primary school teacher and science subject leader at the University of Manchester in England. Rania is excited to apply her experimental experience to show young children that you can’t see in the dark, plants use carbon dioxide, and the moon is illuminated by the sun, among other things.
Kelly Nguyen
Undergraduate Student
Kelly helped investigate the biophysical characteristics of Hsf1 and its role in transcriptional activity during heat shock.
She also enjoys trying new foods around Chicago and love reading/watching Netflix.
Kelly graduated in June of 2023 with a BS in Biological Chemistry. She plans to work as a research associate while she explores MD/PhD options.