Presentations at CRISPR 2026 at Yale
Leifu Chang and Renjian Xiao presented their research at CRISPR 2026, held June 10–12 at Yale University and the Omni New Haven Hotel.
Research Group News
Selected research highlights, awards, and milestones from the Chang laboratory.
2026
RNA-guided transcription: two studies in Nature
Together with the Sternberg laboratory, we investigated how CRISPR-Cas12f homologues direct transcription. Our structural study reveals how a dCas12f–σE–RNA polymerase complex assembles on DNA.
College of Science Research Award
Leifu Chang received Purdue University’s College of Science Research Award.
Promotion to Professor
Leifu Chang was promoted to Professor of Biological Sciences at Purdue University.
2025
Our Cell studies featured in Purdue News
Purdue highlighted our two Cell studies revealing the structural mechanisms of targeted DNA insertion by Tn7-like transposons.
NIH R35 grant awarded
The Chang laboratory received an NIH R35 grant to study the molecular basis of CRISPR-associated transposons and RNA-guided transcriptional regulation.
Congratulations to Dr. Shukun Wang
Shukun Wang completed her Ph.D. in spring 2025.
2024
Shukun Wang receives two graduate honors
Congratulations to Shukun Wang on receiving the Umbarger Outstanding Graduate Student Award and the Bilsland Scholar Assistantship at Purdue University.
Shukun presents at Cold Spring Harbor
Shukun Wang gave an oral presentation on targeted DNA integration in a type I-B2 CRISPR-associated transposon at the Genome Engineering: CRISPR Frontiers conference in August 2024.
Congratulations to Dr. Renjian Xiao and Dr. Indranil Arun Mukherjee
Renjian Xiao and Indranil Arun Mukherjee completed their Ph.D. degrees in summer 2024.
Targeted DNA transposition in Cell
Shukun Wang and colleagues determined the structure of the TnsABCD transpososome, revealing mechanisms of targeted DNA transposition.
NSF CAREER Award
Leifu Chang received an NSF CAREER Award, supporting research and education in the laboratory.
Faculty Scholar recognition
Leifu Chang was named a University Faculty Scholar / Showalter Faculty Scholar at Purdue University.
2023
Congratulations to Dr. Clinton Gabel
Clinton Gabel completed his Ph.D. in spring 2023. Congratulations, Clint!
CRISPR-directed transposon recruitment in Cell
Shukun Wang and colleagues revealed how a type I-B CRISPR effector recruits a Tn7-like transposon, connecting RNA-guided target recognition with DNA integration.
Promotion to Associate Professor
Leifu Chang was promoted to Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Purdue University.
2022
How AcrIF24 inhibits CRISPR and suppresses transcription
Indranil Arun Mukherjee and colleagues reported the structural basis of AcrIF24 activity in Nature Chemical Biology.
2021
Target DNA recognition by CRISPR-Cas12k
Renjian Xiao and colleagues revealed how CRISPR-Cas12k recognizes target DNA for RNA-guided DNA transposition in Molecular Cell.
2019
Anti-CRISPR inhibition of Cas12a
Our study in Cell Host & Microbe revealed the structural basis for inhibition of CRISPR-Cas12a by anti-CRISPR proteins.
2018
Purdue Cryo-EM Symposium
Leifu Chang and Wen Jiang co-chaired the Purdue Cryo-EM Symposium on November 6–8, bringing together the cryo-EM community for scientific exchange.
The Chang laboratory opens at Purdue
Leifu Chang joined Purdue University in January 2018 to establish his research laboratory in the Department of Biological Sciences.