How does a developing embryo build tissues with such precision, even when individual cells behave variably? In vertebrates, cell fate is often described as stochastic, yet tissues form with remarkable reproducibility. What ensures reliable outcomes in the face of variability?
We combine spatial transcriptomics, in toto live imaging, and computational analysis to address this question in the zebrafish retina and early embryo. Our recent work includes advances in spatial transcriptomics and whole-embryo imaging (Science 2026; Cell 2019). By linking gene expression at subcellular resolution to cell behavior and lineage dynamics, we aim to uncover how cellular states, developmental history, and mechanical forces shape cell fate decisions and tissue formation.
My lab (https://www.wanlab.bio/) will start at the Center for Integrative Genomics at the University of Lausanne in 2027. If you are excited about understanding how cells build tissues and about developing and applying new technologies to study development across scales, consider applying to join the lab!
