Stefan Isaac

Stefan Isaac serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at Boston University School of Medicine. His laboratory investigates mitochondrial genome packaging and regulation, with focus on nucleoid architecture and mtDNA expression mechanisms.

Education:

• Ph.D. from University of California, San Francisco (Narlikar Lab)
• B.S./M.S. from Brandeis University (Petsko/Ringe Lab)

Research centers on mitochondrial DNA packaging through TFAM-mediated nucleoids, exploring how compaction states regulate gene expression and replication. The lab employs mtFiber-seq technology to map DNA accessibility at nucleotide resolution, investigating replication initiation licensing and mitonuclear communication in aging and disease contexts. Current projects examine nucleoid remodeling during metabolic shifts and replication-transcription conflicts in post-mitotic cells.

Publication trends reveal consistent focus on genome packaging mechanics across mitochondrial and nuclear systems, with recent work emphasizing single-molecule approaches to organellar genomics. Key themes include chromatin dynamics, replication regulation, and cross-compartmental genetic coordination.

Scientific Recognition:

• No major awards documented in source material

Actively mentors graduate students including Jake Rusnack (mitochondrial dynamics in aging) and Saylor Williams (rare disease mechanisms). The Isaac Lab recruits new members through direct email contact and employs multidisciplinary methods spanning biochemistry, genomics, and molecular biology. Current research addresses fundamental questions in organellar genome regulation with implications for mitochondrial diseases and age-related decline.

Laboratory develops innovative genomic tools like mtFiber-seq for nucleoid analysis while maintaining collaborative ties with Harvard Medical School where foundational postdoctoral work occurred.