Our research aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms behind epigenetic regulation and inheritance. We focus on how environmental factors encountered during an organism’s lifetime can influence gene expression—and how these changes can be passed on to future generations. This challenges traditional genetic paradigms and opens new avenues for understanding heredity.
Our work has broad societal implications, including insights into aging, viral resistance, and agricultural sustainability. By studying gene regulation in model organisms and pests, we contribute to strategies for improving health, managing disease, and controlling invasive species.
We investigate how chromatin and small RNAs mediate gene expression in response to environmental cues, and how these changes are inherited across generations (transgenerational epigenetic inheritance). We are particularly interested in how chromatin and small RNA pathways intersect. Our primary model is the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.
In addition to investigating small RNAs in the context of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, the Ashe lab explores the role of small RNAs in regulating gene expression and defending against viral infections. We study these mechanisms in C. elegans, honey bees and their parasitic mite Varroa destructor, and mammals to understand species-specific antiviral responses. All our honeybee work is carried out with collaborator Dr Emily Remnant, and the mammalian infection work is in collaboration with Professor Angelo Izzo.
We use C. elegans to study complex biological processes such as circannual reproduction (collaboration with Professor Claire Wade) and insulin signaling (collaboration with Professor Carsten Schmitz-Peiffer and Associate Professor Alastair Senior). Using C. elegans for this work enables high-throughput genetic screening and precise manipulation of gene function.
Dr. Carlos Cardoso, ready to begin his post-doc journey at Charles Perkins Centre.
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LinkJuly 2026
Welcoming our newest wormie, Dr. Carlos Cardoso, who is a molecular and evolutionary biologist.
His research uses honey bees and stingless bees to explore how epigenetic mechanisms; including DNA methylation, noncoding RNAs, and histone modifications, translate environmental cues into key traits such as reproduction and longevity, contributing to the diversity seen in bee societies.
Supported by a recently awarded Charles Gilbert Heydon Travelling Fellowship in Biological Science, Carlos and Dr Ashe will use gain-of-function approaches in C. elegans to investigate whether honey bee-derived long noncoding RNAs can reprogram reproductive behaviours in worms.
We are so excited about this union and will keep you posted on the wonders it produces!
Stay tuned!
March - July 2026
In a series of firsts for the Ashe Lab, we are delighted to celebrate our first international visiting intern, Néo Seillet, a Master’s student from the École Normale Supérieure (ENS) in Paris, France.
During his inspiring sojourn with us, Néo investigated potential protein interactions using AlphaFold3, building on a dataset produced by PhD student Ellie Incoll. His project combined computational prediction with experimental validation of potential interaction candidates and included work with C. elegans strains made by another PhD student, Jeremy Lins.
It was a pleasure having Néo as part of the lab and a fantastic way to mark our first international research internship.
Also, can you spot Neo? :)
March 2026
Congratulations to Lottie Wills on the successful submission of her PhD thesis, “Investigating uncharacterised epigenetic regulators in the C. elegans germline.” Her research makes an important contribution to the field of germline biology and epigenetic regulation.
In her thesis, Lottie developed a valuable resource for identifying proteins that warrant further investigation in germ granule biology. She also characterised the functions of two previously unstudied genes and explored an understudied histone modification.
To celebrate this milestone, Lottie was gifted a cute little crocheted worm by her fellow PhD student Ellie Incoll.
We are proud of her achievements. Well done!
March 2026
Congratulations to Jess Hawes for the publication of her perspective piece in Frontiers in Epigenetics and Epigenomics. This interesting article highlights the pioneering work of Professor Emma Whitelaw (who was Alyson’s PhD supervisor) in the field of epigenetic inheritance.
Congratulations also to Jess for winning a student poster prize at the 2026 Lorne Genome conference with her beautiful and extremely well-presented poster. Thoroughly deserved.
September 2025
Congratulations to PhD student Lottie Wills, who won a poster prize at the recent Epigenetics Gordon Research Conference 2025 (Castelldefels, Barcelona, Spain). There was a lot of competition for these poster prizes, with many amazing posters on display from postdocs and students – Lottie did a fabulous job presenting her poster and was a very worthy winner! Here she is being congratulated by Prof Hiten Madhani (Vice Chair of the conference).
August 2025
Congratulations to all – especially joint first authors, Rachel and Natalya, on the publication of their paper, A unified framework governing the establishment and maintenance of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, in Genetics! This paper has been a long time coming and was a real team effort to get it over the line, but it was worth the wait. Well done!
For any enquiries, please contact Associate Professor Alyson Ashe at alyson.ashe@sydney.edu.au.
