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Research Labs

New England Biolabs has an extensive research program that is at the forefront of the life science industry. Over 30 labs participate in research projects, which are aided by post-doctoral fellows and students in Masters and Ph.D. programs. NEB scientists have authored or co-authored over 1,300 publications in a variety of disciplines, including gene expression, chemical biology, parasitology, RNA biology, DNA enzymes and restriction enzymes.

Learn more about the research being conducted in the various research labs by using the links below.
  • Molecular Genetics & Genomics

    The Molecular Genetics and Genomics Division research interests include:

    • Bioinformatics of restriction and modification systems
    • Filarial parasite biology and neglected tropical diseases
    • Discovery of DNA/RNA modifying enzymes using NGS and computational approaches
    • Chromatin modifying enzymes and their role in epigenetic gene regulation
    • Enzymes that distinguish between modified and unmodified RNA
    • Exoribonucleases and sequence-specific endoribonucleases

    The Division of Molecular Genetics and Genomics conducts basic research in parasitology, restriction enzymes, epigenetics, and epitranscriptomics. Our mission is to advance the frontiers of epigenomics and epitranscriptomics research, fostering a deep understanding of how chemical modifications on DNA and RNA regulate cellular processes. While doing basic research, we actively translate our discoveries into biotechnology tools or applications that enable the scientific community, medical diagnostics, and development of nucleic acid-based therapeutics. The diversity of our research labs, our collaborative nature, and the expertise of our scientists promote innovation and will ensure that basic research will continue to play an important role in scientific discovery and development of new technologies.

    • Yigit_Erbay_126x126px

      Erbay Yigit

      Associate Director
      Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Medical School, 2007

      Area of focus:

      RNA modifications and RNA-modifying enzymes

    • Laurence_Ettwiller

      Laurence Ettwiller

      Senior Scientist
      Ph.D., University of Cambridge, 2005

      Area of focus:

      NGS and computational biology

    • Richard Roberts

      Sir Richard Roberts

      Chief Scientific Officer
      Ph.D., University of Sheffield, 1968

      Area of focus:

      Bioinformatics of restriction and modification

    • Sriharsa Pradhan

      Sriharsa Pradhan

      Distinguished Scientist
      Ph.D., University of Glasgow, 1995

      Area of focus:

      Epigenetic gene regulation and inheritance

  • Biochemistry & Microbiology

    The Biochemistry and Microbiology (BAM) Division hosts groups that are experts in molecular mechanisms involved in virus-host, parasite-host interactions, DNA manipulation and protein folding.

    Specific areas of focus include:

    • Oxidative and periplasmic protein folding in prokaryotes
    • Mechanisms of antiphage defense systems
    • Gene regulation in unicellular eukaryotes
    • Filarial nematode biology 
    • Bacterial horizontal gene transfer
    • Nucleic acid modification writers, erasers, and editors

    BAM labs employ an array of bioinformatic, genetic, biochemical, analytical, kinetic, structural, and ‘omics (glycomics, proteomics, (meta)genomics & transcriptomics) approaches to dissect metabolic pathways, macromolecular folding of proteins and modification machinery, pathogen-host interactions, and cellular antiviral defense systems.

    • Lana Saleh

      Lana Saleh

      Associate Director
      Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University, 2005

      Area of focus:

      Ten-eleven translocase (TET) proteins

    • Photo of James Eaglesham

      James Eaglesham

      Staff Scientist
      Ph.D., Harvard Medical School, USA, 2020

      Area of focus:

      Cell defense against viruses

    • Mehmet_Berkmen

      Mehmet Berkmen

      Senior Scientist
      Ph.D., University of Vienna, University of Houston, 2000

      Area of focus:

      Strain engineering and disulfide bonded protein folding

    • Jeremy_Foster

      Jeremy M. Foster

      Senior Scientist
      Ph.D., University of Liverpool, 1989

      Area of focus:

      Genomics and glycobiology of filarial nematodes

    • Peter Weigle

      Peter Weigele

      Senior Scientist
      Ph.D., University of Utah, 2003

      Area of focus:

      The biochemistry of complex nucleic acid modifications

    • Tom_Evans

      Tom Evans

      Executive Director, Research
      Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 1996

      Area of focus:

      Enzymes and technologies involved in DNA repair and replication

    • Lise Raleigh

      Elisabeth Raleigh

      Emeritus Scientist
      Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1981

      Area of focus:

      Adding new genes to bacterial chromosomes and controlling their spread.

  • Applied Molecular Biology

    The Applied Molecular Biology division focuses on putting NEB’s enzyme expertise to work, identifying novel activities and tools to enable technologies in the life sciences. Grounded in basic molecular biology and enzymology research, we discover and develop new enzymes and methods utilized in a wide range of biotechnology applications. From DNA assembly to molecular diagnostics, glycan analysis to enzyme engineering, we are uniquely positioned to bring new and innovative technologies to the greater molecular biology community.

    • Nathan Tanner

      Nathan Tanner

      Associate Director
      Ph.D., Harvard University, 2010

      Area of focus:

      Isothermal amplification, molecular diagnostics, single-molecule analysis of replication enzymes

    • JenniferOng_126x126

      Jennifer Ong

      Scientific Director
      Ph.D., University of Cambridge, 2005

      Area of focus:

      DNA polymerases, RNA polymerases, reverse transcriptases, replication fidelity, next-generation sequence, protein engineering

    • Bill Jack

      Bill Jack

      Senior Scientist
      Ph.D., Duke University, 1983

      Area of focus:

      DNA polymerase function

    • Greg_Lohman

      Greg Lohman

      Senior Scientist
      Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2007

      Area of focus:

      DNA & RNA ligase mechanisms, kinetics and applications

    • Photo of Kelly Zapotek

      Kelly Zatopek

      Staff Scientist
      Ph.D., Brown University, 2014

      Area of focus:

      Nucleic acid maintenance pathways of archaeal extremophiles

  • RNA

    The RNA Research Division aims to discover, understand, and develop enzymes and workflows to enable RNA research and manipulation of genomic information. Our main areas of focus are:

    • New technologies to synthesize RNA for research, therapy, and diagnostics
    • Sequence-specific enzymatic tools to manipulate and interrogate RNA
    • Analytical and biochemical approaches to survey RNA structure and the epitranscriptome
    • RNA-guided genome editors and enzymes for programmable nucleic acid recognition

    This research will help inform future product offerings from New England Biolabs.

    • Ivan Correa

      Ivan Correa

      Associate Director
      Ph.D., State University of Campinas, 2003

      Area of focus:

      Nucleic acid modifications, bioorthogonal probes, synthetic chemistry, mass spectrometry.

    • Siu-Hong_Chan

      S. Hong Chan

      Staff Scientist
      Ph.D., The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000

      Area of focus:

      mRNA capping and 5’ modifying enzymes and technologies

    • Ira Schildkraut

      Ira Schildkraut

      Emeritus Scientist
      Ph.D., University of Miami, 1974

      Area of focus:

      Enzymatic manipulation of RNA

    • Photo of Hoong Lim

      Hoong Lim

      Staff Scientist
      Ph.D., Yale University, 2014

      Area of focus:

      Molecular origins of microbial genetic innovations

    • Robert Trachman

      Robert Trachman

      Staff Scientist
      Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University, USA, 2014

      Area of focus:

      DNA, RNA, viruses, immunity

  • Core Facilities

    The NEB Research Core Facilities provide NEB scientists access to highly specialized services and equipment. Our mission is to facilitate discovery and development for our scientists by lowering the barrier to adopting these specialized technologies in sequencing, metagenomics screening, and protein mass spec. 

    Sequencing Core

    The Sequencing Core Facility supports NEB scientists with state-of-the-art DNA and RNA analysis technologies. We provide two overarching services: capillary electrophoresis (CE) and next-generation sequencing (NGS) to facilitate discovery and development for NEB scientists.

    Metagenomics Core

    The Metagenomics Screening Core exploits a collection of environmental DNA clones and high throughput screening approaches to discover novel enzymes.

    Protein Mass Spec Facility 

    The Protein Mass Spec Facility is a service facility whose mission is to support NEB's diverse research and development initiatives with a focus on protein analysis. We design and conduct mass spectrometry (MS) based experiments relevant to the characterization and quantitation of proteins and proteomes. 

    • Dora Posfai

      Associate Director of Core Facilities & Group Leader Sequencing Core

      Area of focus:

      Capillary electrophoresis and NGS

    • Léa Chuzel

      Group Leader Metagenomics Screening Research

      Area of focus:

      Metagenomics screening

  • Bioinformatics
    The Research Bioinformatics Group (RBG) at NEB specializes in developing bioinformatics solutions and fostering multidisciplinary collaborations to advance NEB Research and early development initiatives, accelerate scientific discoveries, and drive biotechnological innovations.
    • Zhiyi Sun

      Group Leader Bioinformatics Research

      Area of focus:

      Bioinformatics solutions for research