Sarah Kinkley

Dr. Sarah Kinkley serves as a Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin, Germany, where she directs the Kinkley Lab focused on nuclear architecture and epigenetic regulation. Her research group investigates fundamental mechanisms of chromatin organization and its impact on essential cellular processes.

Dr. Kinkley's research centers on higher-order chromatin structure, with particular emphasis on the epigenetic reader protein PHF13 and its multifaceted roles in transcriptional regulation, DNA damage response, cell division, and differentiation. The lab employs advanced molecular and imaging techniques to elucidate how PHF13 modulates chromatin compaction and genome stability, with implications for understanding disease mechanisms and malignant phenotypes.

Analysis of Dr. Kinkley's recent publications (2014-2025) reveals a consistent research trajectory focused on chromatin organization, with increasing specialization in PHF13 protein function and its role in epigenetic regulation. Her work spans molecular biology, genomics, and immunology, demonstrating interdisciplinary approaches to understanding nuclear architecture.

As a research mentor, Dr. Kinkley supervises PhD students including Francesco Rossi, whose dissertation focused on PHF13's role in genome regulation. Her laboratory collaborates extensively with other research groups at the Max Planck Institute and beyond, evidenced by multi-institutional publications in high-impact journals.

The Kinkley Lab maintains active research programs investigating PHF13's molecular interactions, chromatin compaction mechanisms, and connections to heterochromatin formation through partnerships with experts in imaging, biochemistry, and computational biology.