Dr. Julius Christopher Barsi

Julius Barsi is a molecular biologist whose research aims to explain the mechanism by which genomic information is translated into anatomical structure. At its core, he studies transcriptional control mechanisms. His experiments are directed at all levels of biological organization, ranging from transcription-factor DNA interactions that control spatial and temporal gene expressions, up to a systems-level analysis of large regulatory networks. For his studies, he employs a wide variety of model organisms, including mice, frogs, fish, and invertebrates. However, at BIOS, the Barsi Lab utilizes local echinoderms, in conjunction with third-generation sequencing, to decipher the transcriptional cis-regulatory code.

His research has pioneered high-throughput methods that allow genome-wide interrogation in vivo of individual cell types; generated massively parallel reporter assays to identify cis-regulatory elements; and exploited the programmable chemistry of nucleic acid base-pairing to visualize multiple RNA species with unprecedented precision. Recently his interests have expanded into the realm of robotics to build a fully-automated genomic sequencer.

Julius completed his PhD at The University of Texas at Austin and has a decade of research experience at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California, where he was a Senior Fellow.

Educational Background:
California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
-Senior Fellow, 2013-2017
-Postdoctoral Researcher, 2008-2013
University of Texas at Austin, 2001-2006
-PhD (Molecular Biology)
Argentine National University, Bariloche, Argentina, 1995-2000
-Licentiate (Biological Science)

Further Information:
Barsi Lab

Selected Publications:
Tulin, S., J.C. Barsi, C. Bocconcelli, and J. Smith (2016). Genome-wide identification of enhancer elements. Int J Dev Biol 60(4-6): 141-50.

Choi, H.M.T., C.R. Calvert, N. Husain, D. Huss, and J.C. Barsi, et. al. (2016). Mapping a multiplexed zoo of mRNA expression. Development 143(19): 3632-37.

Barsi, J.C., Q. Tu., C. Calestini, and E.H. Davidson (2015). Genome-wide assessment of differential effector gene use in embryogenesis. Development 142(22): 3892-901. (Click here to access the database associated with this paper)

Barsi, J.C., E. Li, and E.H. Davidson (2015). Geometric control of ciliated band regulatory states in the sea urchin embryo. Development 142(5): 953-61.

Barsi, J.C. and E.H. Davidson (2015). Cis-regulatory control of the initial neurogenic pattern of onecut gene expression in the sea urchin embryo. Developmental Biology 409(1): 310-18