Assistant Professor at Carnegie Mellon University Department of Biological Sciences. Fascinated by bacterial decision-making. https://labs.bio.cmu.edu/bridges/https://bsky.app/profile/bridgesbio.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/bridgesbio.bsky.social/post/3mlqclrupic2oThanks so much to @crestoptics.bsky.social for highlighting our research! [contains quote post or other embedded content]13 May 2026 12:30 +0000at://did:plc:wtoi3egoftker7fpykqzbek6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlqclrupic2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/bridgesbio.bsky.social/post/3mkn6zfzyhs2nNew preprint: "A branching cell-fate decision in biofilm dispersal enables long-term surface persistence." When V. cholerae biofilms disperse, it isn’t a uniform exit, rather, an opportunity to bet-hedge. A subpopulation of cells stay behind, primed for biofilm regrowth. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.04.24.72066129 Apr 2026 13:22 +0000at://did:plc:wtoi3egoftker7fpykqzbek6/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkn6zfzyhs2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/bridgesbio.bsky.social/post/3maeereqa4s2gCongratulations to @emmynguyen.bsky.social and our wonderful collaborators. Here we uncover and characterize a periplasm protein that modulates broad physiological changes to V. cholerae by controlling a two component system! [contains quote post or other embedded content]19 Dec 2025 18:59 +0000at://did:plc:wtoi3egoftker7fpykqzbek6/app.bsky.feed.post/3maeereqa4s2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/bridgesbio.bsky.social/post/3m2meu45fmc23The Department of Biological Sciences at Carnegie Mellon is seeking an innovative and accomplished scientist to serve as our next Department Head. Join us in shaping the future of biological sciences in Pittsburgh. https://jobs.sciencecareers.org/job/675374/head-of-the-department-of-biological-sciences/07 Oct 2025 14:51 +0000at://did:plc:wtoi3egoftker7fpykqzbek6/app.bsky.feed.post/3m2meu45fmc23https://bsky.app/profile/bridgesbio.bsky.social/post/3ld7kvz5g5k2iExcited to host a session at @asm.org #Microbe2025 in LA. Our session is entitled, "Acting As a Unit: Regulation of Microbial Collective Behaviors From Molecules to Populations." Please join us and submit an abstract! https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/20974/session/34 #Microsky13 Dec 2024 19:55 +0000at://did:plc:wtoi3egoftker7fpykqzbek6/app.bsky.feed.post/3ld7kvz5g5k2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/bridgesbio.bsky.social/post/3lbubrdm3jk26Excited to share our latest, "Biofilm dispersal patterns revealed using far-red fluorogenic probes." @plos.bsky.social We developed a cell-labeling strategy using far-red dyes to image dense microbial communities (where fluorescent proteins often do not work well) https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.300292826 Nov 2024 14:47 +0000at://did:plc:wtoi3egoftker7fpykqzbek6/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbubrdm3jk26https://bsky.app/profile/bridgesbio.bsky.social/post/3lajb6ntxqk2qHas anyone made a microbiology or bacteriology starter pack??09 Nov 2024 12:12 +0000at://did:plc:wtoi3egoftker7fpykqzbek6/app.bsky.feed.post/3lajb6ntxqk2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/bridgesbio.bsky.social/post/3kmzjh7ofak23We determine that additional pathogenic organisms also exhibit multicellular community formation in response to lysis. Given the pervasiveness of lysis in the environment, we propose that lysis sensing is a threat-agnostic mechanism by which bacteria can gauge endangerment. (4/4)06 Mar 2024 10:59 +0000at://did:plc:wtoi3egoftker7fpykqzbek6/app.bsky.feed.post/3kmzjh7ofak23https://bsky.app/profile/bridgesbio.bsky.social/post/3kmzjgrxid22hWe identify the cell lysis signal as an abundant cytoplasmic polyamine, norspermidine, which is detected by an inner-membrane receptor, MbaA, that in turn drives biofilm formation. (3/4)06 Mar 2024 10:59 +0000at://did:plc:wtoi3egoftker7fpykqzbek6/app.bsky.feed.post/3kmzjgrxid22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/bridgesbio.bsky.social/post/3kmzjgacm5k2iWe find that the mechanism underlying this observation is a process we refer to as "lysis sensing"...whereby surviving cells sense a signal released by the death of their kin. (2/4)06 Mar 2024 10:58 +0000at://did:plc:wtoi3egoftker7fpykqzbek6/app.bsky.feed.post/3kmzjgacm5k2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/bridgesbio.bsky.social/post/3kmzjfqh2ws2cOur first paper from the lab! We find that upon exposure to lytic phages, the pathogen V. cholerae rapidly lyses, but then recovers, with surviving cells exhibiting robust biofilm formation. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-46399-1 (1/4)06 Mar 2024 10:58 +0000at://did:plc:wtoi3egoftker7fpykqzbek6/app.bsky.feed.post/3kmzjfqh2ws2chttps://bsky.app/profile/bridgesbio.bsky.social/post/3kgtklfhv6w2yHad a blast writing a commentary #msphere on “Biogeography of a human oral microbiome at the micron scale” by @jmarkwelch.bsky.social et al. The work in this paper made me want to be a microbiologist. I vividly remember an MBL lecture by Gary Borisy on the topic when I was a grad student. https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/msphere.00628-2318 Dec 2023 17:32 +0000at://did:plc:wtoi3egoftker7fpykqzbek6/app.bsky.feed.post/3kgtklfhv6w2y