Member Spotlight: Ertuğrul M. Özbudak, PhD

Name:

Title:

Robert Laughlin Rea Professor of Cell Biology

Year joined CDB:

2024

Describe your research interests.

In my lab, we investigate mechanisms governing developmental pattern formation. Each organ and tissue display characteristic patterns: cohorts of cells break symmetry, group together and generate functional patterns. While developmental biologists have a good understanding of how to generate different cell types from pluripotent stem cells, they have a limited understanding of pattern formation. Mechanistic understanding of pattern formation will elucidate the etiology of different developmental disorders and will also enable us to generate properly-patterned and functional organs and tissues in the dish.

What motivated you to pursue a career in research?

One of my hobbies is puzzle solving. Research is attempting to solve the most mysterious puzzles which are not man-made and do not have answer sheets.

What advice would you give to younger research trainees?

Persistence, endurance, being focused, being stubborn while also knowing which fights to pick up and which ones to delay, being critical of all ideas (including yours).

What do you enjoy doing outside of your research?

I like watching epic science fiction movies, playing chess and soccer.

If you could collaborate with any scientist, living or deceased, who would it be and why?

I admire many scientists, particularly physicists. But because I am currently researching in developmental biology, I would wish to collaborate with the late Lewis Wolpert who made seminal contributions and proposed thought providing ideas ahead of his time.