WALII team

WALII operates as a virtual research institute that brings together scientists and trainees from nine institutions across the United States to collaborate and cross-train on nine major projects. Each project is carried out by labs at 3-7 institutions, led by a
​Co-PI from different institutes, and uses a wide range of tools, biological systems, and disciplines.

Institute Director

Seung Yon (Sue) Rhee

Senior Staff Scientist, Carnegie Institution for Science
Professor of Biology (by courtesy), Stanford University

THEME LeadS

Thomas Boothby

Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming
Surviving the Solid State Lead

Christina Walters

Supervisory Plant Physiologist, National Laboratory for Genetic Resource
Rehydration & Recovery Lead

Alex Holehouse

Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University in St. Louis
Molecular Engineering Lead; Project Lead: Rational design of de novo proteins for desiccation tolerance in cells and organisms

Robert VanBuren

Assistant Professor of Horticulture, Michigan State University
Evolutionary Dynamics Lead; Project Lead: Identify conserved and lineage-specific molecular responses to anhydrobiosis

PROJECT LEADS

Shahar Sukenik

Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University of California, Merced
Project Lead: Is glass strength associated with protective capacity?

Marisa Otegui

Professor of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Project Lead: How do cellular structures change during dehydration to solid-state?

Margaret Fleming

Assistant Professor of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University
Project Lead: What are the genetic and metabolic milestones of recovery from desiccation?

Hugo Tapia

Assistant Professor of Biology, California State University Channel Islands
Project Lead: How does partial re-hydration affect desiccation tolerance?

Steven Boeynaems

Assistant Professor of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine
Investigator at Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital
Project Lead: Molecular rules of membraneless organelle water responsiveness

Moises Exposito-Alonso

Staff Associate, Carnegie Institution for Science
Assistant Professor of Biology (by courtesy), Stanford University
Project Lead: Identify genetic determinants underlying desiccation tolerance by mining natural variation in seed germination across A. thaliana populations

Administrative team

Selena Rice

Scientific Coordinator, Carnegie Institution for Science

Elena Lazarus

Assistant Scientific Coordinator, Carnegie Institution for Science