Our lab takes an interdisciplinary approach -- combining techniques and expertise from biochemistry, structural biology, biophysics, cell biology, and chemistry & chemical biology -- to answer challenging mechanistic questions about the regulation of RNA modification and its links to human disease.
Organisms across all domains of life decorate their RNA molecules with an incredible diversity of chemical modifications. Modifications on mRNA and tRNA are critical for their function, affecting RNA structure, stability, and translational properties. Many of the proteins and enzymes that read, write, and erase these modifications are closely tied to human diseases ranging from neurological disorders to cancer to type 2 diabetes. While these proteins and pathways could be targets to treat these diseases, we lack a high-resolution, mechanistic understanding of how the cell installs, recognizes, and leverages chemical modifications on RNA. Multiple project areas in our lab are working to understand how the protein, cofactor, and nucleic acid interactions of RNA-modifying enzymes regulate chemical modifications on mRNA and tRNA to control gene expression and impact human disease.
We’re looking for curious, enthusiastic scientists with interests in biochemistry, structural biology, chemical biology, and biophysics. Students in our lab learn and use a broad range of techniques including protein expression and purification, enzymology, RNA biochemistry, cell culture, macromolecular X-ray crystallography, mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy, and other biophysical assays.
The Mugridge lab is actively recruiting at all levels! We have openings for graduate students in Chemistry & Biochemistry or other programs with interests at the interface of chemistry and biology, undergrads at UD interested in doing research during the academic year and over the Summer, and postdoctoral researchers with strong backgrounds in biochemistry or structural biology. Contact Jeff directly for more information.
The Mugridge lab is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive lab space where students and researchers of all backgrounds are welcomed and supported to grow and succeed as scientists. We will actively foster a dynamic, collaborative, and open lab environment where members feel free to ask challenging questions, do innovative science, and have fun doing it!
For the latest group news, follow us on Bluesky!
Congrats to Evan, Youmna, and all other other coauthors on the final version of our Elp3 paper published in Nature Communications!
— Mugridge Lab (@mugridgelab.bsky.social) July 9, 2026 at 10:27 AM
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Lots of turnover in the lab over the past academic year! Brittany Shimanski and Luke Calzini both finished PhDs (the 3rd + 4th PhDs from the lab)! Each did nice work on the selectivity and regulation of RNA demethylases; read their preprints here: doi.org/10.1101/2025... doi.org/10.1101/2025...
— Mugridge Lab (@mugridgelab.bsky.social) July 9, 2026 at 1:09 PM
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Congrats also to Mugridge lab PhD students Paige Roehling and Harrison Bernhard, who passed their candidacy exams earlier this year!
— Mugridge Lab (@mugridgelab.bsky.social) July 9, 2026 at 1:12 PM
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We finally got out and celebrated our lab's recent NSF CAREER award today with a lab bowling and laser tag trip! Pew pew! 🔫🎳
— Mugridge Lab (@mugridgelab.bsky.social) Jan 4, 2025 at 4:40 PM
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