Rob Dowen

Rob Dowen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He holds affiliations with the Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences (iBGS). His research focuses on lipid metabolism, energy homeostasis, and aging, using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Key areas include understanding pro-growth signaling pathways (e.g., mTOR, insulin/IGF), transcriptional regulators of metabolic trade-offs, and gut microbiota interactions with host metabolism. His lab employs genetic screens, CRISPR, and genomic techniques like ChIP-Seq and RNA-Seq. Recent work explores kombucha tea microbes’ effects on lipid storage and host metabolic pathways.

Research highlights include identifying how PBX/MEIS transcription factors coordinate metabolic switches for reproduction and elucidating SWI/SNF chromatin remodellers’ roles in stress resistance and longevity. Dowen’s lab actively recruits postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduates, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches and funding opportunities. The lab’s website provides further details on ongoing projects and methodologies.

Scientific contributions span metabolic disease mechanisms, epigenetic regulation, and microbiome-host interactions. Collaborations with UNC core facilities enhance genomic and biochemical analyses. Current projects aim to dissect nutrient sensing pathways, microbial metabolite impacts, and aging processes, with potential implications for human metabolic health.