The group examines genomic DNA rearrangements emphasizing mobile genetic elements and transposons that can relocate within and between genomes, causing mutations while driving adaptation and evolution. Research focuses on understanding autonomous jumping mechanisms and their effects on host organism physiology, adaptation, and evolution. Projects include DNA elements carrying antibiotic resistance in multidrug-resistant bacteria, eukaryotic transposons for genetic engineering, and retrotransposons implicated in human disease. The team integrates structural biology, biochemistry, biophysics, and molecular genetics with systems-level bioinformatics, genomics, and cell biology to develop functional molecular understanding, ultimately designing approaches to counteract transposon pathological effects and create new genetic research tools.