Welcome to the Robert Lab
Using a comparative biology approach to advance developmental immunology, immunotoxicology, non-polymorphic MHC and innate T cell biology. Leveraging the amphibian Xenopus as a reliable alternative experimental organism to study immunity against virus and mycobacteria pathogens, and immune alterations induced by developmental exposure to water pollutants across the lifespan.
Mentoring Philosophy
My core value as a mentor is to be an empathic, supportive advocate who brings out the best in the mentee and sets them up for success in both the short and long term.
One can expect me to treat everyone with respect, as well as to provide a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment, free of any harassment. At the same time, I will guide trainees to progressively gain self-confidence, tenacity, autonomy, knowledge, critical and independent thinking in developing a research project and future career goals. As such, my mentoring style is progressive, flexible, supportive, and adapted to the personality and needs of each trainee.
In turn, I am expecting from each of my trainees to be respectful of others, including their person, their time, their reagents, as well as shared laboratory equipment and spaces. Team based and collaborative spirit is very important in my lab. I am also expecting honesty, integrity, and rigor in all research and scholarly activity in the lab. Each trainee should remain up to date on laboratory safety training and be familiar with the Robert Lab Safety Manual and animal SOP.


Jacques Robert, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator

Team Science Showcase: The People and Partnerships Moving Microplastics Research Forward
Public concern about microplastics and human health is growing. Learn how University of Rochester scientists and community partners are advancing research through interdisciplinary teams and innovative collaborations.
Read the full story →- Using fluorescent in vitro amphibian cell infection models to quantify Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis pathogenicity.; Methods (San Diego, Calif.). 2026 Feb 13.
- Evolutionary Perspective of Nonclassical MHC Class I and Innate-like T Cells Relevance in Immune Surveillance.; Cells; Vol 14(20). 2025 Oct 14.
- The Amphibian Genomics Consortium: advancing genomic and genetic resources for amphibian research and conservation.; BMC genomics; Vol 25(1), pp. 1025. 2024 Nov 01.
- Stable in vitro fluorescence for enhanced live imaging of infection models for Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.; PloS one; Vol 19(8), pp. e0309192. 2024 Aug 29.
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Robert Lab
601 Elmwood Ave
MRBX 2-11001
Rochester, NY 14642