Bob Goldstein

Bob Goldstein is the James L. Peacock III Distinguished Professor of Biology and Adjunct Professor of Art at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He leads the Goldstein Lab, focusing on cell and developmental biology using model organisms like C. elegans and tardigrades. His research explores cell movement, shape changes, developmental patterning, and mechanisms of extreme survival in tardigrades.

Goldstein earned his PhD in Zoology from the University of Texas at Austin (1992) and BS in Biology from Union College (1988). He has held postdoctoral positions at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge and the University of California, Berkeley.

His work spans cell polarity, cytoskeletal dynamics, and evolutionary developmental biology. Key projects include studying apical constriction in C. elegans gastrulation and tardigrade survival mechanisms like desiccation tolerance and radiation resistance. Goldstein has pioneered the use of tardigrades as model organisms, uncovering roles for intrinsically disordered proteins and DNA repair pathways.

Recent research highlights include identifying tardigrade proteins that protect against radiation damage and elucidating Wnt signaling roles in cell polarity. Goldstein also co-teaches an interdisciplinary course merging art and science, emphasizing microscopy and public engagement.

Notable awards include the Guggenheim Fellowship (2007), Pew Scholar designation (2000-2004), and the Chapman Family Teaching Award (2018). He has received over $30 million in NIH and NSF grants, including an NIH R35 Outstanding Investigator Award.

Goldstein advises over 50 trainees, including postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduates. His lab supports DEI initiatives, mentoring low-income scholars through the Carolina Covenant program. He serves on editorial boards of Development, Genetics, and Developmental Cell, and organizes international conferences on emerging model systems.

Goldstein’s lab operates at UNC’s Department of Biology, collaborating with the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Curriculum in Genetics. Ongoing projects investigate tardigrade genomics, C. elegans gastrulation mechanics, and developing DIY microscopy tools for education.