Welcome to the Bi Lab at the University of Pennsylvania

The Bi lab studies the fundamental mechanisms of cell organization and division. We use budding yeast and mammalian cells to investigate the roles and regulation of septins and the cytokinetic machinery in cell division. We also use cell lines and mouse models to uncover the mechanisms underlying hepatocyte polarization and apical tube formation. In addition, we are developing the basidiomycetous yeast Kockovaella fuzhouensis as a new model system to address fundamental questions in cell and developmental biology.

We are part of the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology (CDB), and members of the Cell and Molecular Biology graduate group (CAMB).

Welcome Emily Shapland to our lab for her rotation!

Welcome Amy Lee to our lab for undergraduate research!

Latest News

Kangji published his new findings identifying the nonhelical tailpiece (NHT) of nonmuscle myosin-II as a key regulator of filament architecture, dynamics, and function, providing mechanistic insights into diseases caused by NHT truncations. Monday, August 10, 2026
Junya published his new findings on how E- and N-cadherin function in concert to drive hepatic polarity and bile canaliculus formation and elongation through opposing regulation of RhoA activity. Monday, August 3, 2026
Hiroki published the draft genome sequence of the basidiomycetous yeast Kockovaella fuzhouensis, providing a genomic resource for developing this unique yeast as a new model system to study cell morphogenesis and division. Wednesday, June 24, 2026