Janna Hachmann is interested in the oncogene known as MALT1, which plays a crucial role in certain forms of lymphoma. MALT1 can undergo a gene translocation resulting in a hybrid protein that contains components of an apoptosis inhibitor and a protease. Janna seeks to define the mechanism of the oncogene, and the role of its individual components, in thymocyte proliferation. She is learning to screen peptide libraries and to develop focused proteomic technologies to define the fundamental properties and the natural and oncogenic substrates of MALT1.