Recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors (rAAVs) are a powerful laboratory and clinical tool, and are approved for multiple gene therapies. rAAVs deliver single-stranded DNA genomes to the host cell nucleus, which are converted to double-stranded, concatemeric episomes that can be transcriptionally active for the life of the host cell. How the cell processes these vector genomes is not well understood. In the Tjian + Darzacq Lab, I am combining super-resolution microscopy with genomic and biochemical approaches to understand the mechanisms of rAAV genome processing. Studying the basic biology of rAAVs is key to advancing its therapeutic efficacy and safety.