Pierre Gönczy

Pierre Gönczy is a Full Professor at the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), affiliated with the School of Life Sciences (SV) and the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC). He leads the UPGON research unit and actively participates in doctoral program committees related to molecular approaches to living organisms. His roles include teaching and supervising students in Life Sciences Engineering and Cell and Developmental Biology.

• Location: SV Building (SV 1526), EPFL, Station 19, Lausanne
• Contact: pierre.gonczy@epfl.ch | +41 21 693 07 11

Research Focus: Gönczy's work centers on cell division mechanisms, particularly centriole assembly, elimination, and polarity in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos. His studies explore microtubule dynamics, protein scaffolding (e.g., SAS-6), and the structural basis of ninefold symmetry in centrioles. He also investigates spindle positioning, asymmetric division, and the role of phosphatases/kinases in these processes.

Publication Trends: Recent articles emphasize centriole biogenesis (SAS-1, SSNA-1), computational modeling of protein assembly (BindCraft, CenFind), and cross-species comparisons (Naegleria gruberi, human cells). Techniques include cryo-tomography, super-resolution imaging, and microfluidic devices for embryogenesis studies.

Education & Teaching: Gönczy contributes to Life Sciences Engineering programs, teaching genome modification, functional analysis, and scientific project design. He leads practical courses in the Gönczy Lab, focusing on cell division mechanisms in C. elegans and human cell systems.

Labs & Teams: He directs the UPGON unit at EPFL's ISREC, collaborating with the Oates laboratory on developmental biology projects. His work integrates molecular biology, computational analysis, and advanced imaging techniques.