Justin Kumar

Developmental biologist who loves and uses the Drosophila eye to study exciting topics in fate specification and patterning. (he/him)

[Justin Kumar @FlyEyeLab]

It was great seeing my friend Duojia Pan after many years. He gave an inspiring talk as part of the Tracy Sonneborn Lecture series. It was fantastic hearing about his work on the evolution of the Hippo pathway and catching up over dinner.

[Justin Kumar @FlyEyeLab]

Very grateful to have had the opportunity to present my research on the Drosophila eye at the 2026 ISER meeting in Valencia, Spain. Just as important was the chance to hang out with all of my friends over the last few days. Can't wait to see everyone again!

[Justin Kumar @FlyEyeLab]

Many thanks to all keynote speakers, session speakers, discussion leaders, and attendees for making the 2026 GRC on Visual System Development the best one ever. Can't wait to see everyone again at the 2028 meeting in Il Ciocco, Italy

[Justin Kumar @FlyEyeLab]

Me with past, current, and upcoming Chairs of the Visual Systems Development Gordon Research Conference. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the 2028 meeting in beautiful Il Ciocco, Italy

[Justin Kumar @FlyEyeLab]

I had a great time at the Visual System Development GRC. Even got a chance to go on a small hike with my friend and meeting co-organizer Jeremy Kay.

[Justin Kumar @FlyEyeLab]

@ahramkim1128 Thank you!

[Justin Kumar @FlyEyeLab]

The 2026 GRS/GRC on Visual System Development begins tomorrow. It is going to be a great meeting. Jeremy Kay, Kristen Kwan, Robert Johnston and I are looking forward to seeing you in beautiful Maine. Safe travels to all attendees. See you in a day!

[Justin Kumar @FlyEyeLab]

My lab had the pleasure this week of introducing high school students Khulan Escue and Grace Lodi to the exciting world of the Drosophila compound eye. We took some time to get lunch at Lennie's and ice cream at Hartzell's. Hope to see both Grace and Khulan as future IU students!

[Justin Kumar @FlyEyeLab]

It was great to be back at CSHL. I had a fantastic time talking to the students of the Drosophila Neurobiology course about eye development. Many thanks to Jens Rister and Maria Fernandez for the invitation to be a guest lecturer this year!

[Justin Kumar @FlyEyeLab]

If you are heading to the GSA Yeast Genetics meeting this week be sure to see Soni Lacefield (@LacefieldLab and @lacefieldlab.bsky.social) give a fantastic lecture and receive the Ira Herskowitz Award for her outstanding contributions to yeast research!

[Justin Kumar @FlyEyeLab]

Kumar lab lunch at the Social Cantina. We say goodbye to PhD student Jasmine Warren (front right) and undergraduate student Lindsay Fleitman (back left). It has been wonderful having Jasmine and Lindsay in the lab and we will really miss both of them. Best of luck!

[Justin Kumar @FlyEyeLab]

Excited to share that Kumar lab alumna Haley Brown has received a Ruth L. Kirschtein F32 postdoctoral fellowship from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). She is currently a postdoctoral fellow with Melissa Harrison at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

[Justin Kumar @FlyEyeLab]

Happy to share that my graduate student, Jasmine Warren, successfully defended her PhD thesis today! She has put together a beautiful story on the role played by the Extradenticle transcription factor in patterning the Drosophila eye. Keep an eye open for her upcoming paper!

[Justin Kumar @FlyEyeLab]

The 2026 Visual System Development GRC and GRS are fast approaching. Jeremy Kay, Kristen Kwan, Robert Johnston, and I have built an exciting program that we hope you will enjoy. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the meeting this summer in beautiful Maine. Register and RT!

[Justin Kumar @FlyEyeLab]

My friend Soni Lacefield @lacefieldlab.bsky.social is receiving the Ira Herskowitz Award at the Yeast Genetics Meeting this summer for her outstanding contributions to the field of yeast genetics. Be sure to be there and hear her give an awesome lecture!

[Justin Kumar @FlyEyeLab]

I am very excited to share that Brittany Zaruszak is the newest PhD graduate student to join my research group. Brittany is studying how transcription factors coordinate with Polycomb Group epigenetic repressors to specify the fate of the Drosophila eye.

[Justin Kumar @FlyEyeLab]

Starting 2026 by writing a new research paper on patterning of the Drosophila eye. And yes, I know that I have a great office...

[Justin Kumar @FlyEyeLab]

Excited to announce that the newest paper from my lab on the Drosophila visual system is out today!

Modulating the levels and activity of the retinal determination network is sufficient to induce the specification of distinct tissue fates in Drosophila https://t.co/0H4Hj6pMqx

[Justin Kumar @FlyEyeLab]

See my Perspective article in Science that accompanies an exciting new paper from Claude Desplan's lab. I highlight their discovery that waves of calcium are required to finalize the structure of the Drosophila retina.

The retina’s rhythm | Science https://t.co/XNZvSb5PW4

[Justin Kumar @FlyEyeLab]

Patience is a virtue! I have been a season ticket holder at my home institution, Indiana University, for 23 years. I have seen a lot of bad football games. My perseverance through the pain and suffering is finally paying off. We are ranked #3 in the country. Upwards and onwards!