Our model organism, Haloferax volcanii, undergoes remarkable morphological transitions between two primary states: motile rods and sessile disks. My work aims to understand how and why this transition occurs. What causes a cell to change shape, and by what mechanisms does this transition occur? Using various techniques, including live-cell imaging, microfluidics, and cloning, I study the archaeal cytoskeleton, S-layer, and responses to external cues to solve these problems.

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Outside of the lab, I also work as a Science Communications Lab Fellow, where I help members of the scientific community at all levels learn to convey their work clearly and effectively. 

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zacharycurtis [at] brandeis [dot] edu