Our research centers on the developmental biology of apicomplexan parasites, specifically the opportunistic pathogen Toxoplasma gondii. Toxoplasma chronically infects ~25-30% of all humans globally and can cause life-threatening neurological complications in the immunocompromised or fetal defects if acquired during pregnancy. Like many apicomplexans, Toxoplasma has evolved a complex life cycle that requires transitions between distinct developmental forms, each highly specialized to a particular niche or role in infection. Currently, we are working to understand how signals from the host environment are sensed by the parasite and translated into gene regulatory decisions to drive differentiation. Using a combination of functional genomics, synthetic biology, and cell biological approaches, we aim to dissect—and ultimately prevent—the developmental transitions that underlie Toxoplasma transmission, long-term persistence, and disease.