Benjamin Tu

Benjamin Tu serves as Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and holds a prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator appointment since 2021. His research program investigates fundamental connections between cellular metabolism and biological decision-making processes.

His academic training includes:

• PhD in Biochemistry and Biophysics from University of California-San Francisco (2003)
• AB and AM in Chemistry from Harvard University (1998)

Dr. Tu's laboratory focuses on how metabolic states coordinate epigenetic regulation, autophagy, mitochondrial function, and RNA biology. Key investigations examine histone modifications during nutrient stress, ribosome regulation by metabolic signals, autophagy-metabolism crosstalk, and ataxin-2's role in neurodegeneration. This work reveals critical pathways linking metabolic dysregulation to aging and disease.

His major recognition includes:

• Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator (2021)

While specific student mentorship details aren't provided, his HHMI-funded research program supports substantial investigative teams exploring metabolic control mechanisms. The Tu Lab maintains active collaborations across metabolism and disease research domains.

Accessible through tulab.science, the laboratory drives innovative research on metabolic cycles, redox regulation, and therapeutic implications for age-related pathologies.