
M.S., Biochemistry, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 2003
Ph.D., Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, UK, 2007
Honors and Awards
- Packard Fellowship, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, 2014-2019
- Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences, 2014-2016
- Kimmel Scholar for Cancer Research, 2014-2016
- NIH Pathway to Independence Award, 2012-2016
- Postdoctoral HHMI Fellow of the Life Science Research Foundation, 2009-2011
- EMBO Long-term Fellowship for Postdoctoral Research, 2008
- FEBS Young Scientist Prize, 2007
- Max Perutz Student Price for Outstanding Research, 2005
Affiliations
- Associate Professor, Department of Molecular Biology
- Associated Faculty, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Associated Faculty, Department of Chemistry
- Associated Faculty, Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute
Research Interests
Molecular Architecture and Function of the Microtubule Cytoskeleton.

How is a specific microtubule architecture established at the molecular level?

We employ two complementary approaches that allow us to both look at structural detail of microtubule effectors and explain their function in the biological context. To study the mechanism by which microtubules are organized at a structural level, we use biophysical methods, electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography. To understand the dynamic assembly of the microtubule cytoskeleton, we combine biochemical and cell biological techniques along with advanced light microscopy methods.
Our goal is to identify and characterize new mechanisms that establish the cellular microtubule architecture. This will ultimately reveal how the microtubule cytoskeleton builds cellular structures to give cells their shape, position organelles, serve as tracks that move materials, generate force for movement, and segregate chromosomes.
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Thawani A, Kadzik RS, Petry S. XMAP215 is a microtubule nucleation factor that functions synergistically with the γ-tubulin ring complex. Nat Cell Biol. 2018; 20(5):575-585.
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Dixit R, Petry S. The life of a microtubule. Mol Biol Cell. 2018; 29(6):689.
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Song J-G, King MR, Zhang R, Kadzik RS, Thawani A, Petry S. Mechanism of how augmin directly targets the γ-tubulin ring complex to microtubules. J Cell Biol. 2018; 217(7):2417-2428.
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Song J-G, Petry S. Dissecting Protein Complexes in Branching Microtubule Nucleation Using Meiotic Xenopus Egg Extracts. Cold Spring Harb Protoc. 2018.
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Rale MJ, Kadzik RS, Petry S. Phase Transitioning the Centrosome into a Microtubule Nucleator. Biochemistry. 2017.