Research

Current work in protein engineering, ambient stabilization, and machine-learning-guided preservative design.

Active programs

Active

CAHS protein engineering

Expression and screening of tardigrade-derived intrinsically disordered proteins for glass-forming capacity around model enzymes and vaccine antigens.

Active

Ambient vaccine stabilization

Formulation work to hold mRNA and protein subunit vaccines at room temperature for extended periods without loss of immunogenicity.

Active

Desiccation tolerance atlas

Comparative transcriptomics and proteomics across cryptobiotic species to map conserved and divergent survival mechanisms.

Active

ML preservative design

Sequence and structure models trained on known anhydrobiotes to propose novel protectant peptides and small-molecule additives.

Publications

2017

Tardigrades use intrinsically disordered proteins to survive desiccation

Boothby et al. · Molecular Cell

2021

A living bdelloid rotifer from 24,000-year-old Arctic permafrost

Shmakova et al. · Current Biology

2023

A novel nematode species from the Siberian permafrost

Shatilovich et al. · PLOS Genetics

2016

Extremotolerant tardigrade genome and improved radiotolerance by suppressing DNA damage genes

Hashimoto et al. · Nature Communications