Dr Erik Griffin

Supervisor Details

Contact Details

School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick

Scientific Background

Research Interests

Asymmetric cell divisions generate daughter cells with distinct identities and are essential for both embryonic development and adult tissue homeostasis. Cell polarity lies at the heart of an asymmetric division: the polarized distribution of factors at the plasma membrane and in the cytoplasm prior to cell division leads to their asymmetric inheritance by the daughter cells. While decades of work has elucidated the mechanisms that control cortical polarity, we know surprisingly little about how cytoplasmic asymmetries are generated. The long-term goal of my research program is to understand how the cytoplasm is polarized using a combination of quantitative imaging, mathematical modelling, genetic and biochemical approaches. We focus our research on the asymmetric divisions in the C. elegans embryo that establish the germline lineage. Current projects in my lab focus on:

The role of polo kinase and PP1 phosphatase in polarizing the distribution of germline determinants in the early C. elegans embryo.
The establishment of distinct germline and somatic translation programs following asymmetric division in the early C. elegans embryo.

Research Groups

Griffin Lab (Will be updated to Warwick shortly)

Cells and Development

Supervision Style

In three words or phrases: Goal-oriented, supportive, inclusive.

Provision of Training

Technical training will be provided by either myself or by my experienced post docs/PhD students. I will take primary responsibility for guiding your developmental as a presenter, writer, scholar and thinker.

Progression Monitoring and Management

I expect you to set high standards for yourself and be driven to succeed as a graduate student. You can expect me to fully support you in that effort. I offer weekly ono-on-one meetings to discuss research plans and progress and to support my trainees reaching their professional development goals. I have an open door policy for people in my lab, but expect increasing levels of independence during graduate training.

Communication

I prefer to speak with my trainees in person and will typically have an informal chat with everyone several times a week. I will respond to emails from people in my lab as soon as possible, but do not expect my trainees to be responsive outside of normal work hours.

PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me:

In a group meeting

At least once per week

In year 1 of PhD study

At least once per week

In year 2 of PhD study

At least once per week

In year 3 of PhD study

At least once per fortnight

These meetings will be face to face and I am usually contactable for an instant response on every working day.

Working Patterns

Certain tasks in my lab need to occur at set times, and students need to be able to commit to a rota/timetable shared with other members of the team.

Notice Period for Feedback

I need at least 2 week’s notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5000 words.

MIBTP Project Details

Current Projects (2025-26)

Patterning the C. elegans embryo

See the PhD Opportunities section to see if this project is currently open for applications via MIBTP.

Please Note: The main page lists projects via BBSRC Research Theme(s) quoted and then relevant Topic(s).

Mechanisms of asymmetric cell division: Coordinating polarity and the cell cycle

Secondary Supervisor(s): Dr Andres Pires da Silva

University of Registration: University of Warwick

BBSRC Research Themes:

Understanding the Rules of Life (Stem Cells)
Integrated Understanding of Health (Regenerative Biology)

Project Outline

Asymmetric cell divisions give rise to daughter cells with distinct fates and functions. Asymmetric divisions generate cell diversity during embryonic development and are essential to maintain adult tissue health. For example, dysregulation of stem cell asymmetric divisions can drive tumor formation in several tissues. The long term goal of our research is to understand how asymmetric divisions are orchestrated during embryonic development, which will provide a foundation for understanding how they are disrupted in pathogenic contexts.

We study the mechanisms underlying asymmetric divisions in the early C. elegans embryo, which allows us to combine classic genetic and modern gene editing approaches with quantitative fluorescence imaging. Shortly after fertilization, the embryo undergoes four consecutive asymmetric divisions that distinguish the germline lineage from somatic lineages. Prior to each asymmetric division, germline and somatic translational regulators are partitioned to opposite cell poles, leading to their asymmetric inheritance to either the somatic or germline daughter cell.

PhD projects in my lab will focus on understanding the coordination between cell cycle, cell polarity and translational control mechanisms. In particular, we are interested in 1) the role of the mitotic kinase Polo (PLK-1) and the phosphatase PP1 in the partitioning of somatic and germline translational regulators and 2) using live imaging approaches to quantify how translation is regulated in space and time during early development.

References

Wu Y, Han B, Li Y, Munro E, Odde DJ, Griffin EE (2018) Rapid diffusion-state switching underlies stable cytoplasmic gradients in the Caenorhabditis elegans zygote. PNAS. 115(36):E8440-E8449.

Han B, Antkowiak KR, Fan X, Rutigliano M, Ryder SP, Griffin EE (2018) Polo-like kinase couples cytoplasmic protein gradients in the C. elegans zygote. Current Biology. 28:60-69.

Wu Y, Han B, Smith J, Singh A, Griffin EE (2019) Single molecule dynamics of the P granule scaffold MEG-3 in the C. elegans zygote. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 30(3):333-345.

Co-supervisor on a project with Dr Andre Pires da Silva.

Previous Projects (2024-25)

Primary supervisor for:

Mechanisms of asymmetric cell division: Coordinating polarity and the cell cycle

Co-supervisor on a project with Dr Andre Pires da Silva.