Prof. Anne-Ruxandra Carvunis to join IMSB!
We are excited to announce that IMSB will welcome Anne-Ruxandra
Carvunis as a new Full Professor later this year!
Anne's research focuses on mechanisms of evolutionary innovation, with a particular focus on the emergence of new genes and their integration into biological networks. She is a pioneer in the field of de novo gene birth, studying how non-coding sequences can evolve into functional genes. Among her discoveries is the finding that non-coding transcripts can be transiently translated, producing what she termed “proto-genes” - short, nascent proteins that may acquire biological function and ultimately evolve into new genes. Her work has revealed a vast transient translatome, thousands of previously unannotated translated sequences in yeast, some of which appear to influence cellular fitness, suggesting biological relevance. Anne combines computational biology and experimental approaches, making her research well-aligned with our institute's mission.