People

Current Members

Daniel J. Lew, PhD

Professor of Biology

Building 68

Office 68 - 630B

31 Ames Street

Cambridge, MA 02139

djlew@mit.edu

Daniel Lew obtained a BA in genetics from Cambridge University (UK), and then a PhD in molecular biology working with James Darnell on interferon-stimulated transcription at the Rockefeller University (NY). After postdoctoral training on yeast genetics and cell cycle control with Steve Reed at the Scripps Research Institute (CA), he joined the Duke University faculty in 1994. His work has focused on the control of the cell cycle by cell shape and cytoskeletal stress, and on polarity establishment, with a view to understanding the universal problems of symmetry breaking and singularity (i.e. why a polarized cell has one and only one “front”). His group combines mathematical modeling with genetics/biochemistry/cell biology approaches to understand the design principles of the polarity machinery, and more recently the basis for effective tracking of pheromone gradients.

Alison Wirshing

Postdoctoral Fellow

wirshing@mit.edu

Alison is a postdoc in the Lew Lab interested in how cells deploy the cytoskeleton to organize and divide their cytoplasmic contents. She is investigating this using a combination of quantitative live-cell imaging and genetics in the unusual multi-budding yeast, Aureobasidium pullulans, which simultaneously produces many (10+) daughter cells each cell cycle. This creates unique challenges for the cell; for example, how does each daughter cell get at least one nucleus?

Corrina Robertson

Postdoctoral Fellow

cgr915@mit.edu

Corrina is a PhD Candidate turned Postdoctoral Fellow who matriculated in through the Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB) umbrella program and ultimately affiliated with Pharmacology and Cancer Biology (PCB). She received her B.S. from Concord University in Athens, West Virginia and immediately entered graduate school after finishing my undergraduate degree. In the Lew lab, she currently investigating why wild-type yeast mate with one and only one partner. Given what we now know about “competition” between polarity factors, her project questions whether yeast polygamy is usually prevented by this mechanism. By generating mutants that have slowed competition, we can elucidate the mechanisms responsible for yeast monogamy. Outside of the lab, she is very interested in music (ranging from the 1960’s-2010’s with Steely Dan, Talking Heads, R.E.M., David Bowie, and the Bee Gees being some of her favorite musical artists) and learning new languages (She's pretty decent at both French and Swedish).

Claudia Petrucco

PhD Candidate

claudia.petrucco@duke.edu

Erin Curtis

PhD Candidate

erc46@mit.edu

Erin is a PhD Candidate who came to Duke through the Molecular Genetics and Microbiology (MGM) program. She received her B.S. in biology at Syracuse University and decided to apply to graduate school after taking a gap year to explore different research fields and opportunities. In the Lew Lab she currently studying cell signaling by looking into how Saccharomyces cerevisiae identify mating partners and facilitate successful fusion. Outside of lab she enjoys checking out local restaurants, baking for friends, playing videos games, and watching anime!

Clara Fikry

PhD Student

clara113@mit.edu

Aarshi Jain

PhD Student

aarshi@mit.edu

Aarshi is interested in how microbes interact with each other and their environment. She holds a B.S. in Marine Biology and Computational and Systems Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Currently, Aarshi is investigating how fungi remodel their cell wall during natural processes without lysing. Her research focuses on the cell wall integrity pathway in the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In her free time, Aarshi enjoys reading, dancing, hiking, and sailing.