The Settling Point:
The Larva, The Signal, The Story
Hi I’m Emily, a Cell, Molecular and Development Biology (CMBD) PhD candidate between SDSU and UCSD in the Shikuma Lab. I specialize in interrogating the molecular machinery behind host-microbe driven metamorphosis. My research leverages innovative genetic and microbial techniques to explore how bacterial cues shape animal development and evolution, with a focus on marine invertebrate metamorphosis. I ‘m passionate about developing new and broadly applicable genetic approaches to study these processes in diverse marine invertebrates.
Summer 2024 Ellis B Ridgeway Research Fellow Friday Harbor Labs
Current Research
The genetic machinery behind animal metamorphosis
Developing genetic tools in Hydroides elegans
How do larvae respond to diverse bacteria?
CV at a glance
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2022-2027 PhD Candidate Shikuma Lab University of California, San Diego and San Diego State University JDP program in Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology.
2019 - 2021 Bachelors of Science (B.S) in Marine Biology California State University, Long Beach
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2024 Graduate Research Fellowship, San Diego State University (2 years support, ends 2026)
2024 Ellis B Ridgeway Fellowship, University of Washington, Friday Harbor
2023 Reese-Steely Fellowship, San Diego State University
2022 Lambert Fellowship, University of Washington, Friday Harbor
2022 Fernald Fellowship, University of Washington, Friday Harbor
2021 COAST Virtual Conference Travel Award
2020 Marine Biology Research Foundation Scholarship
2019 Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Research Fellowship
Academic Honors
2021 Dean’s List, California State University Long Beach, Fall/Spring
2020 President’s List, California State University Long Beach, Fall/Spring
2017 Academic Honors, Cuesta College Fall/Spring 2017-2019
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Darin E*, Farrell M*, Ali T, Alfaro J, Malter KE, Shikuma NJ. MyD88 knockdown by RNAi prevents bacterial induction of tubeworm metamorphosis. 2025. PNAS.
Malter K, Dunbar T, Westin C, Darin E, Alfaro J, Shikuma NJ. (2025). A bacterial membrane-disrupting protein stimulates animal metamorphosis. mBio 2:16, e03573-24. https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.03573-24
Nesbit K., Hargadon AC, Renaudin G, Kraieski N, Buckley KM, Darin E, Lee Y, Hamdoun A, and Schrankel C. (2025).Characterization of cellular and molecular immune components of the painted white sea urchin Lytechinus pictus in response to bacterial infection. Immunology and Cell Biology 103, no. 1: 45-59. https://doi.org/10.1111/imcb.12828
Thornton-Hampton L, Coffin S, Lowman H, Darin E, Frond H, Hermabessiere L, Miller E, Ruijter V, Faltynkova A, Kotar S, Monclús L, Siddiqui S, Völker J, Brander S, Koelmans A, Rochman C, Wagner M and Mehinto AC. (2022). A living tool for continued exploration of the toxicity of microplastics. Journal of Microplastics and Nanoparticles. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43591-022-00032-4
Darin E. (2021). The effects of bisphenol-A on the survival and morphology of D. excentricus larvae. Invertebrate Reproduction and Development. https://doi.org/10.1080/07924259.2021.1923578
MBL summer embryology course 2024 TA Woods Hole, MA
My Research Vision
My research explores the conserved genetic networks underlying metamorphosis across invertebrates and how these processes are influenced by microbial interactions. I am fascinated by the evolutionary origins of immune, neural, and developmental systems, particularly the possibility that basal metazoans once integrated these functions into a single regulatory mechanism. My work also examines how developing organisms adaptively respond to environmental stress and microbial cues, and I develop genetic tools in non-model species to reveal fundamental insights into animal-microbe symbioses.
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Contact Me!
I am currently looking for post-doctoral positions and potential research collaborators. Please reach out to me via this form or email me directly at edarin@ucsd.edu! I look forward to speaking with you.