Piali Sengupta
@senguptalab
Brandeis Bio/Neuro. We study multiple aspects of sensory biology. Mostly in worms. Lab appears to be powered by vast quantities of junk food. Opinions mine. senguptalab.org
The simple joy of people watching in Central Park on a hot summer day.
Seeing previous mentees in their fully differentiated state, thriving in their professional and personal lives, makes all the stress and hard work of running a lab so worth it. 30th reunion weekend. Thanks to my current lab for organizing and planning, and to everyone for coming. I am verklempt.
Not AI, no filter and not Photoshopped. Wildfires in Canada making everything look like the the end of the world here
Huh - many of the 'comments' in favor of OMB's thing use the same language. So hoping these will all be lumped together. Here's an excerpt from mine- couldn't help going on a mini-rant.
Cilia and axons are both polarized microtubule-based structures. Do they share regeneration mechanisms? Ans: partly. The DLK-1 MAPKKK and CEBP-1 C/EBP TF required for axon regeneration also drive cilia regrowth, but not developmental ciliogenesis. DAF-19 also induces cebp-1 during regeneration. 4/6
Using a conditional cilia truncation system developed by ex-PD, now Asst Prof @aphilbrook.bsky.social we show that adult sensory cilia regrow and restore neuronal function. Unexpectedly the master ciliogenesis RFX TF DAF-19 is not needed to maintain adult cilia but is essential for regeneration 2/6
Lab apparently has a new emoji on lab Slack. "One of the younger people in lab made it". That's me in a lab coat - I put it on one time last year to help with an EMS screen. Wonder what they are using the emoji for on their own channels. Hmmmm......
Something nice to look forward to in these apocalyptic times. T-shirts for our lab's 30th anniversary reunion ordered and on their way! Cannot wait to see so many lab alums coming in from all over the world (despite reliable intel that apparently I am in for some ribbing).
We are everywhere. In this case, the 1870 version in the historic Stabat Mater library of the fabled and fabulous Bologna Archiginnasio.
Just a few light snacks on our trip. Interspersed with miles of walking thankfully. (Pics courtesy of F1)
Being holed up in my office stressing about and writing grants when spring has sprung and the grass is riz after a long cold winter is a special kind of torture. At least I can stare at pics…
TV didn't come to my city until 1975 and so never watched the first human on the moon. This was soooo cool (and a bit nervewracking). Just boggles the mind that humans can do this. Science, amirite?
We are 30 today!! 🎂🎈🎉 30 yrs of scientific ups and downs, exciting new findings and totally wrong hypotheses, fundable scores and not, and the privilege of working with all the many people who joined our adventures in the wormverse. Can’t wait to see everyone again at our lab reunion this summer!
As someone who grew up thinking 70F was cold, >35 yrs in the Northeast still hasn't made me love winter. Especially this winter in Boston. But Mr. Cardinal sat on our snow-covered cherry tree today and it was pretty.
Our second paper of the year is online at @pnas.org. Led by recently graduated PhD student Anjali Pandey, we describe how seemingly symmetric neuronal responses can be mediated by underlying asymmetric molecular mechanisms. Link to longer preprint post below. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
26 degrees out and snow on the ground? No matter. First job accomplished for 2026 was putting up the hammock in the family room. Panacea for existential stress.
Mango cream, sweet potato, pecan, two cherry. Not sure we made enough.
Despite the mess, we are grateful to be funded, have exciting science happening, and have an opening for a postdoc! If you are interested in sensory biology and esp in cilia, thermosensation, or interoception, and would like to join an interactive & supportive group - please email. Please RT 🙏
Puffins. Howling cold wind. Wild coastal scenery. Few people. Paradise.
We've now identified a molecule (a receptor guanylyl cyclase or rGC) that acts only in one of the two AWC neurons to drive the context-dependent response plasticity. The opposing responses (one neuron driving attraction, the other aversion) results in animals being indifferent to this chemical.
Proud to introduce Dr. Anjali Pandey who did a great job at her thesis defense and talk today. She is PhD #20 from the lab. Preprint link and associated bluetorial coming soon!