Princeton UniversityEach of us harbor biological timers in our bodies known as the circadian clock. These clocks drive physiological processes and behaviors in coordination with the day-night cycle. Recent work has provided evidence that the circadian clock regulates immune functions in coordination with the day-night cycle. However, the underlying mechanisms by which the circadian clock drives rhythms in immunity are ill-defined. The Brooks lab seeks to mechanistically determine circadian clock regulation of innate immune functions at the intestinal epithelial barrier. Forming the first line of defense, the intestinal epithelium must acquire nutrients from the diet while maintaining harmony with a vast consortium of microorganisms known collectively as the microbi