I’m a: biologist

My research: We are interested in understanding how cells develop into organisms. We love the nematode C. elegans, because it allows us to readily combine a great number of useful techniques. Current work in the lab addresses several fundamental questions in cell and developmental biology — how cells move to specific positions during development, how cells change shape, how developmental patterning mechanisms tell cell biological mechanisms what to do where and when, how intercellular signals act to polarize cells, and how the mitotic spindle is positioned in cells.

We have also been developing a relative of C. elegans and Drosophila, a water bear (tardigrade), to study how developmental mechanisms can evolve to produce organisms with different forms and how biological materials can survive unusual extremes.

What do you typically eat for breakfast? granola cereal with a banana

What is your favorite type of cuisine to cook? anything our kids will eat

What is your favorite snack or candy? Reese’s peanut butter cups

What is your favorite spice? basil

What is one food you absolutely dislike? cashew fruit

My 4 dream scientist dinner companions:

Rita Levi-Montalcini
Kizzmekia Corbett
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek
Jan Baptist van Helmont

Bob’s Recipe