Department of Biology

Research Strengths

Eukaryotic Cell Biology, Cytoskeleton and Signaling

The Indiana University Biology Department has a strong focus in eukaryotic cell biology. Many of our most fundamental challenges in Biology lay in understanding the basic mechanisms by which cells function. Stem cells, cancer cells, and the many hundreds of specialized cell types that constitute an organism share conserved essential properties. Research into how cells divide, take shape, and faithfully replicate their DNA forms a core interest for the MCDB faculty section. Individual laboratories at Indiana University are making significant contributions to our understanding of how cells send and receive signals, generate motive forces, and control the eukaryotic genome. A particular strength of the faculty lies in comparative use of plant, microbial, and animal model systems.

Laboratories focusing on eukaryotic cell cycle regulation, DNA replication and mitosis (Calvi, Ellison, Lacefield, Pomerening, Walczak, Zolan). Laboratories interested in the cytoskeletal organization and function (Hangarter, Hu, Kaufman, Raff, Shaw, Walczak). Laboratories working on cellular signaling (Innes, Lacefield, Pomerening). Laoboratories with defined interest in cellular morphogenesis (Hu, Shaw).