The University of Chicago · Biochemistry and Molecular Biology GCIS W125 · 929 E. 57th Street, Chicago, IL
Fei LabRNA Biophysics & Gene Regulation
Welcome to the Fei Lab

Molecular and cellular biophysics of gene regulation

We study how gene expression is regulated by RNA–protein interactions and by subcellular RNA localization, particularly to membraneless organelles, using imaging and sequencing approaches. We also develop new labeling, imaging and sequencing methods.

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Latest news All news →

  • Welcome Jayden Hu, joining us for summer high school research through the UChicago ASM STEM Lab Internship!
  • Welcome Anya Narayan (Katen Scholar, summer undergraduate research) and Evan Ying (MSTP rotation student)!
  • Li successfully defended her thesis. Congratulations, Dr. Wen!
  • Nurai was selected as a 2025–2026 Quad Undergraduate Research Scholar by the UChicago College.

Research directions

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Membraneless organelles

RNA localization and organization at membraneless organelles

Which RNAs go to nuclear speckles, what rules send them there, and how localization shapes splicing and gene expression.
Bacterial regulatory RNAs

Kinetic mechanisms of bacterial regulatory RNAs

How riboswitches, small RNAs and the chaperones Hfq and ProQ sense cellular physiology to control gene expression.
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Funding support

We thank our past and current funders
NIGMS NHGRI NSF Searle Scholars Program Chicago Biomedical Consortium NIA Funding partner