There are two main lines of inquiry that we focus on in our laboratory. Our research aims to 1) define the molecular mechanisms that drive hematopoietic stem cells to develop into T cells, and 2) understand how certain subsets of T cells are programmed for specialized functions in mucosal tissues, such as the lungs and the female reproductive tract. We approach these questions through the lens of transcriptional regulation, with a focus on the E protein transcription factors HEBAlt and HEBCan.