Denis A. Larochelle

Denis A. Larochelle is a Professor in the Department of Biology at Clark University, where he serves as the Medical Careers Director. His research focuses on cytokinesis, specifically identifying proteins/genes involved in the mechanics and regulation of cell division using the model organism Dictyostelium discoideum. He can be reached at dlarochelle@clarku.edu.

• Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, Stanford University (1991)
• M.S. in Zoology, University of New Hampshire (1985)
• B.A. in Zoology, University of New Hampshire (1983)

His work includes molecular genetic screens to identify cytokinesis-related genes such as racE, which is essential for cell division, and a gene homologous to the human Chediak-Higashi syndrome gene. Recent publications highlight his contributions to epigenetic methylation studies and nuclear envelope organization in Dictyostelium, reflecting interdisciplinary expertise in genomics, bioinformatics, and developmental biology.

Scientific awards include an NSF grant (2022-2023) and a Clark University Faculty Development Grant for investigating DNA methylation in Dictyostelium. He has presented at the Northeast Nuclear Envelope Meeting (Yale University, 2019).

• Led research on DNA methylation mechanisms in Dictyostelium (2023)
• Characterized nuclear envelope dynamics (2019)
• Identified novel cytokinesis genes (ongoing)

Larochelle's lab employs genetic screens and biochemical analyses to study cell division, contributing to understanding fundamental biological processes and their implications in human diseases like Chediak-Higashi syndrome.