The overarching focus of the Cucinotta lab is to understand how dramatic chromatin reprogramming occurs as cells "wake up" from a dormant-like state called quiescence. We are interested in understanding the fundamental principles underlying this process, so we use a few systems in the lab, which include budding yeast and mammalian neural stem cells. Both of these models offer different but complementary grounds in which we can elucidate these mechanisms. We also strongly believe that science is for everyone and diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential for scientific excellence.