Rupinder (Rim) Kaur is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Illinois Chicago and leading the Kaur Lab. She is interested in exploring the dynamic interplay between hosts and their microbial symbionts, with a central focus on Wolbachia — a widespread intracellular bacterium that manipulates host reproduction and provides antiviral protection in arthropods. She uses a multidisciplinary approach combining molecular genetics, epigenetics, cell and developmental biology, biochemistry, microscopy, and chromatin profiling to uncover fundamental insights behind host-symbiont interactions.
Since completing her postdoctoral training at Vanderbilt University under the mentorship of Dr. Seth Bordenstein, she has been leading research that uncovered the molecular mechanism of Wolbachia-induced cytoplasmic incompatibility — a phenomenon that is at the forefront of vector control programs. Her work has been published in high-impact journals including Science, Cell Host & Microbe, and PLoS Biology; featured in 13 major news outlets, including Science Daily, EurekAlert, Phage Directory blogpost, and resulted in a provisional patent aimed at improving vector control strategies. She is a proud recipient of the “High-Impact Research in One Health, 2024” and "Young Researcher in Biology, 2022" awards. She serves as a mentor for the Early Career Leadership Program at the Genetic Society of America. She is also an Editorial Board member for the journals of Communications Biology and mSystems. Dr. Kaur's research is funded by NIH R01 mechanism.
Outside of the lab, she spends time doing yoga, pilates, hiking, traveling, exploring cool cafes and restaurants in Chicago, and spending time with her friends, family and an irresistible super-cute pup.
Since completing her postdoctoral training at Vanderbilt University under the mentorship of Dr. Seth Bordenstein, she has been leading research that uncovered the molecular mechanism of Wolbachia-induced cytoplasmic incompatibility — a phenomenon that is at the forefront of vector control programs. Her work has been published in high-impact journals including Science, Cell Host & Microbe, and PLoS Biology; featured in 13 major news outlets, including Science Daily, EurekAlert, Phage Directory blogpost, and resulted in a provisional patent aimed at improving vector control strategies. She is a proud recipient of the “High-Impact Research in One Health, 2024” and "Young Researcher in Biology, 2022" awards. She serves as a mentor for the Early Career Leadership Program at the Genetic Society of America. She is also an Editorial Board member for the journals of Communications Biology and mSystems. Dr. Kaur's research is funded by NIH R01 mechanism.
Outside of the lab, she spends time doing yoga, pilates, hiking, traveling, exploring cool cafes and restaurants in Chicago, and spending time with her friends, family and an irresistible super-cute pup.