Marcus Varni

Marcus studies Mesodinium, a genus of ciliates that acquire and maintain algal organelles through kleptoplasty. Across species, these organisms display a continuum of complexity in how they organize and rely on these stolen plastids for essential metabolite production. By dissecting the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying this gradient, Marcus seeks to uncover the principles that enable cellular integration of foreign organelles. His work aims to advance our understanding of facilitated endosymbiosis and inform strategies for engineered metabolism in biotechnologically relevant systems.

Outside of lab, you can find Marcus climbing, playing board games, or taking care of his plants.