Kris Dahl
Carnegie Mellon University
Biophysical Journal Editor, Cell Biophysics

What are you currently working on that excites you?

We are examining the gene expression and epigenetics of regenerative medicine. This has included stem cell differentiation, but we are also looking at starfish. This fun model organism can completely regenerate. You can cut the head off a larva and it will completely regrow a head with all of the neural structures. In collaboration with starfish development experts, we are examining the individual cells within the organism responsible for regeneration and how they work together. We are hoping to learn from the genetics, as well as biophysics, of these cells, to better understand and enhance healing in humans.

What have you read lately that you found really interesting or stimulating?

I just finished reading The Power, a science fiction novel by Naomi Alderman in which women have an extra electricity-generating organ in their bodies. It switches the balance of power in the world from men to women. It includes interesting commentary on biology, gender, psychology, and sociology. Of course, I also love the feminist take. One takeaway is that no one group should have dominant power; balance and diversity is important. It also made me think about other circumstances in the world where power has been unbalanced. For example, the U.S. and other wealthy countries have had the privilege of the possibility of full COVID vaccination, while other countries have not. I hope that with some of the world-level issues that impact us, like pandemics or climate change, we are able to respond as a world and not as countries.