Caia Duncan

I am an experienced Molecular Biologist with a strong background in RNA chemistry and processing.  I enjoy developing techniques to answer biological questions in new ways and finding out what the next question is!  In the past few years my model system has been fission yeast where I'm able to create large panels of strains to interrogate the details of eukaryotic protein translation control.

In my current research, I study the regulation of protein synthesis in fission yeast.  Here, I have developed and optimized small mRNA-sequencing into cutting-edge techniques, such as Ribo-seq and TCP-seq by developing my own NGS library preparation and analysis protocols. To complement these studies, I design vector constructs as reporter assays.  I analyse these reporters with a combination of techniques, including qPCR, western blotting, flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, and mass spectrometry.  To do this, I actively seek out new collaborations both to learn new techniques but also to expand my research into new model systems, such as disease models in mammalian cell lines.   This has led to many publications and successful grant proposals.

Concurrent to my research I am also the senior lab member and have been managing the lab for many years.  This includes all aspects of keeping the lab organized, on time, and within budget.  Fortunately, it also allows me to design projects for incoming students, coordinate on all projects in the lab and seek out new collaborations to take projects in new directions.  Additionally, I organize regular informal meetings for people working with RNA in our department to communicate and troubleshoot their work.

My passion for RNA started during my PhD where we developed SHAPE chemistry to use RNA modifications to map changes in structure. When my data didn’t correlate with predicted structures, I pioneered a technique using single nucleotide mutations to show how proteins can chaperone RNA folding