Kaushik Ragunathan

Kaushik Ragunathan is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Brandeis University, specializing in molecular mechanisms of epigenetic inheritance and chromatin dynamics. His research employs single-molecule approaches to study histone modifications and chromatin-associated factors in fission yeast (S. pombe). He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has received prestigious awards including the American Cancer Society Research Scholar Award (2023–2027) and the NSF CAREER Award (2025–2030).

His lab investigates how histone modifications and their interactions regulate gene expression stability. Key projects include studying the Clr4-Swi6-Epe1 heterochromatin complex, heterochromatin misregulation adaptation, and HP1 protein dynamics. Techniques used include genetic screens, biochemistry, single-molecule imaging, and genomics (RNA-seq/ChIP-seq).

Recent work highlights HP1 oligomerization’s role in heterochromatin localization and the cAMP pathway’s regulation of Epe1 protein levels. His research bridges molecular mechanisms with cellular outcomes, emphasizing epigenetic robustness and adaptability. The lab is affiliated with Brandeis’ Rosenstiel Center and collaborates with institutions like the University of Michigan.

• Education: Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Affiliations: Department of Biology, Neuroscience Program
• Key Techniques: Single-molecule FRET, genetic engineering, CRISPR, live-cell imaging

His work addresses how chromatin architecture impacts gene regulation and epigenetic memory, with implications for cancer and developmental disorders.