What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your line of research

I just started my own research group in the Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). My group focusses on the ‘evolutionary cell biology’ of the nucleus: searching for fundamental principles of nuclear organisation using comparative genomics, quantitative cell biology and experimental evolution in multiple microbial model systems. In the longer term, we are also interested in investigating the evolutionary origins of the nucleus and its starring role in the emergence of eukaryotes from an archaeal-bacterial symbiosis billions of years ago. I carried out my postdoctoral research with Buzz Baum at University College London and hold a PhD in systems biology from Stanford University.

What are you excited about in science communication?

The democratisation of tools and platforms for the dissemination of science – shifting the power balance towards the key stakeholders, the public that funds the research and the scientists themselves.  

Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?

I’ve been a member of the ASAPbio community for some years, and am also involved in other initiatives to promote discussion around preprints (e.g. preLights). Participating in the programme has been a way to bring those interests and communities together! 

Ask me about…

Evolution and the history of evolutionary biology, weird microbes, theatre, arthouse movies, photography