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People

Meet our team

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Uri Gophna

Principal Investigator

I am an evolutionary microbiologist, focused on horizontal gene transfer in archaea and bacteria, and mechanisms that restrict it. I am fascinated with how mobile elements end up shaping the evolutionary fate of microbial lineages, and although inherently selfish, sometimes contribute greatly to adaptive processes within ecosystems. 

Postdoctoral Research Associate

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Israela Turgeman-Grott

CRISPR-Cas systems provide acquired heritable immunity to bacteria and archaea against invasion by selfish DNA elements. I observed that many halophilic archaea have spacers that target chromosomal replication genes, implying a potential role for CRISPR-Cas in interspecies antagonism and genetic conflicts in archaea. Currently, I am finding out how such spacers are acquired, and their affects on lateral gene transfer in these organisms

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Leah Reshef

Postdoctoral Research Associate

When I first entered the field after a thesis in classical microbiology, Uri promised me I would never get bored. Five years later. that still holds true. I direct and advise all microbiome analysis going on in the lab, which can span a broad spectrum from oysters to humans. As the entire field is moving forward at breakneck pace, this sometimes feels like trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle while riding a roller-coaster, but, it's an exhilarating ride all the way.

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Doron Naki

Ph.D Student

I am studying viruses and CRISPR in archaea and how they interact.

Deepak Choudhary

Ph.D. Student

My thesis work is focused on addressing the functions of CRISPR-Cas system beyond defense mechanism, which includes the role of CRISPR-Cas in gene exchange across different species and its impact on microbial speciation, primarily in halophilic archaea.

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Neta Altman

Postdoctoral Research Associate

I am using a wide array of genetic approaches to study the roles of CRISPR-Cas and homologous recombination in the evolution of halophilic archaea.

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