The Goley Lab is part of the Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD. We are a bacterial cell biology lab broadly interested in understanding how bacterial cells grow and adapt in different environments. We use cell biological, biochemical, genetic, and structural approaches to dissect cellular processes with the aim of understanding how they work in molecular detail. A detailed understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of bacterial growth is required to confront the growing crisis in antibacterial resistance. 

We maintain a welcoming and supportive lab environment, and we respect and value the contributions and experiences of everyone in the lab. Erin is committed to individualized and intentional mentoring for each lab member.

Recent News

Jul 2025: We are excited to officially join the Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics at JHU! 🧬

Apr 2025: As of July 1, the Department of Biological Chemistry at Johns Hopkins will be closed and its members integrated into other departments in the IBBS. The BC department has been an incredibly supportive and collegial environment for us to do our science in over the past 14 years and, to say the least, we're sad to see it go. On the ☀️ side, we're excited about our new home in the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, where we have many friends and colleagues and look forward to building further connections.  

Jan 2025: Peter Nguyen, a first year BCMB student, has joined us for the third rotation. Welcome, Peter! 😃👋

Dec 2024: Ryan McQuillen and Amilcar Perez's work from the Xiao lab on light-dependent modulation of protein localization in bacteria is out in Nature Communications. Erika contributed to testing out CRY2-CIBN in Caulobacter. Congrats to all the authors! 

Nov 2024: Phoebe White, a first year BCMB student, joined us for her second rotation. Happy to have you with us, Phoebe! 😀👋

Sept 2024: Patrick Cann, a first year PhD student in the BCMB Program, joined us for his first rotation! Welcome aboard, Patrick!😀👋

Sept 2024: Mathilde Gonin joined us as a Research Technician to help us build a library of Rickettsia mutants! We're so happy to have you join us Mathilde! 😀👋

Sept 2024: Lanzhuo Wu, a first year PhD student in the Graduate Program in Biological Chemistry, has joined us for her first rotation. Welcome Lanzhuo! 😀👋

Aug 2024: Isaac's paper on conservation of function of the division regulator FzlA was accepted in J Bact! Congrats to Isaac as well as to co-authors Jordan Barrows, Brody Aubry, and Pam Brown! 📝🎉

Aug 2024: Allison and Erika's paper on the essential role of OpgH and activation of the CenKR two-component system is published now in mBio! Check out the paper and the news release! Congrats team! 📝🥳🧬

July 2024: Andrew Krusenstjerna joined us for his postdoctoral research after training with Brian Stevenson at U of Kentucky for his PhD! Welcome, Andrew! 😀👋

July 2024: Dajaha gave a great presentation on polarity in Rickettsia parkeri at the CARES Symposium. Well done Dajaha! 🔬

July 2024: Trung and Dezmond presented well-received posters at the American Society for Rickettsiology meeting in VA. Awesome job! 👏

Recent publications

Funding