David Pincus is an Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology. The Pincus lab is located in the Center for Physics of Evolving Systems on the 5th floor of GCIS.
The Pincus Lab studies cellular adaptation at three levels: cell biological mechanisms of adaptation to environmental stress, global principles of adaptation and resource allocation in complex environments, and the intersection of physiological stress response factors and evolutionary adaptation.
David is trained in approaches in biochemistry, biophysics, genetics, genomics, and molecular, cell, computational, systems and synthetic biology. The lab uses budding yeast and cultured human cells as experimental models.
Key project areas:
1) Quantitative cell biology of the heat shock response
2) Single-cell transcriptomics in complex stress environments
Whitehead Institute
Cambridge, MA
2018
UCSF
San Francisco, CA
PhD - Biochemistry
2012
UC Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
BA - Molecular & Cell Biology
2004
Emergent 3D genome reorganization and graded gene control from the stepwise assembly of transcriptional condensates.
Emergent 3D genome reorganization and graded gene control from the stepwise assembly of transcriptional condensates. Cell Rep. 2026 Sep 22; 45(9):117888.
PMID: 42632016
A DNA-barcoded Luria-Delbrück assay resolves mechanisms of adaptation.
A DNA-barcoded Luria-Delbrück assay resolves mechanisms of adaptation. bioRxiv. 2026 Aug 07.
PMID: 42620021
Chaperone condensates buffer the heat shock response against pleiotropic inputs.
Chaperone condensates buffer the heat shock response against pleiotropic inputs. bioRxiv. 2026 Jul 30.
PMID: 42619928
Simple biological controllers drive the evolution of soft modes.
Simple biological controllers drive the evolution of soft modes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2026 Apr 28; 123(17):e2523032123.
PMID: 42012951
Physiological architecture and evolutionary origins of cellular adaptability.
Physiological architecture and evolutionary origins of cellular adaptability. bioRxiv. 2026 Apr 11.
PMID: 41993285
Organelles harbour pH gradients.
Organelles harbour pH gradients. Res Sq. 2026 Jan 20.
PMID: 41646419
Organelles harbour pH gradients.
Organelles harbour pH gradients. bioRxiv. 2025 Dec 16.
PMID: 41446184
Static Magnetic Field Promotes Wheat Nitrogen Assimilation by Repressing Jasmonates Biosynthesis Through TaHY5.
Static Magnetic Field Promotes Wheat Nitrogen Assimilation by Repressing Jasmonates Biosynthesis Through TaHY5. Plant Biotechnol J. 2026 Feb; 24(2):424-441.
PMID: 40923284
Temporal depth in a coherent self and in depersonalization: theoretical model.
Temporal depth in a coherent self and in depersonalization: theoretical model. Front Psychol. 2025; 16:1585315.
PMID: 40978271
Simple biological controllers drive the evolution of soft modes.
Simple biological controllers drive the evolution of soft modes. ArXiv. 2025 Jul 16.
PMID: 40709308
Stewart Trust Cancer Fellowship
Alexander and Margaret Stewart Trust
2013 - 2015
Early Independence Award (DP5)
NIH Office of the Director
2013 - 2018
Graduate Research Fellowship
NSF
2007 - 2010