Jason Hughes
Department: Molecular Physiology & Biophysics
Faculty Mentor: Gregor Neuert, Ph.D.
Dissertation Description: Characterization of transcriptional regulation in single cells
My research project is focuses on the quantitative understanding of transcription regulation in single cells. Specifically looking at the epigenetic mechanisms of hyperosmotic stress adaptation in S. cerevisiae due to HOG1 and chromatin remodeling complexes. The transcriptional role of chromatin regulators needs to be characterized at the single cell level as many different models of gene-regulation can be described by the same population-level transcriptional dynamics. My research focuses on developing a quantitative understanding of transcriptional regulation in single cells to better understand how chromatin regulatory proteins impact transcription and how changes in transcription protect cells from osmotic stress.