This project aims to better understand how cells determine their fate when they are under stress, specifically stress in a part of the cell called the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the cell's power plant, which produces and folds proteins. Since proteins support all cellular functions, the production of properly functioning proteins is critical to cellular health. When the ER becomes overwhelmed due to an increase in protein production needs, it triggers a response called the unfolded protein response (UPR). This type of response plays a crucial role in maintaining cell health. If the UPR goes awry, then cellular fate is altered, potentially leading to cell death. This research project develops new tools that enable the investigation of how genes behave in real-time and create systems that help cells better manage protein production under stress. Unlike older trial and-error methods, these approaches provide precise control over how cells respond, utilizing built-in feedback systems. The results of this project could lead to new ways to engineer healthier, more resilient cells. The highly multidisciplinary research environment provides broadly reaching educational and training opportunities to graduate, undergraduate, and high school students. The secretory pathway is responsible for synthesizing approximately one-third of all proteins in eukaryotic cells. As physiological demands and pathological insults constantly challenge endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis, the unfo