I discovered an ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling reaction as a post-doctoral fellow in Carl Wu's lab. Since then, I have been investigating the mechanisms and functions of chromatin regulation. In my own lab, using S. cerevisiae as a model organism, we initially focused on how ATP- dependent chromatin remodeling factors control mRNA and long non-coding RNA transcription. Through these studies, we became increasingly interested in two areas: (1) How does chromatin regulation affect various DNA-dependent processes in the context of cell division and cell-cycle control? (2) How is chromatin structure regulated at higher order (three-dimensional) levels? In last several years, we started to investigate chromatin regulation in cell quiescence. We found yeast quiescent cells as an excellent discovery tool, and are actively investigating molecular mechanisms of chromatin reprogramming during entry, maintenance and exit from quiescence. In the next several years, we will take multidisciplinary approaches to investigate chromatin reprogramming in cell quiescence.
I have been a faculty member in Basic Sciences Division of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center for 22+ years (since December 1997). Like most of the labs at the Hutch, my lab has been small but highly active. I have trained 12 graduate students and 6 post-doctoral fellows, including current trainees. All past trainees moved onto excellent positions in which they use their training background, including 5 that hold faculty positions at U Washington (x2), U Massachusetts, U Oregon, and Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
I have served on more than a dozen Study Section meetings and have been on the editorial boards of Biophysical Journal and Science Advances. At Fred Hutch, I have served on leadership positions as a member of Executive Committee and Associate Director of Basic Sciences Division