My lab is dedicated to understanding how cell adhesion and migration is regulated by the physical behaviors and structure of the actin cytoskeleton, focal adhesions and cell-cell adhesions and how the physical behaviors of complex cytoskeletal machines emerge from their molecular constituents. We employ approaches from condensed matter physics, cell biology and biochemistry to study the physical properties of the actin cytoskeleton and focal adhesions within live cells and in reconstituted systems of purified proteins.
Scripps Research Institute
La Jolla, CA
- Cell Biology
2007
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
PhD - Physics
2004
Brown University
Providence, RI
BS - Physics & Math
1998
Mechanosensitive FHL2 tunes endothelial function via microtubule-actomyosin crosstalk.
Mechanosensitive FHL2 tunes endothelial function via microtubule-actomyosin crosstalk. EMBO J. 2026 Jul; 45(13):4569-4604.
PMID: 42192127
Tension transmission across a supracellular network drives increased tissue rigidity in the Drosophila retina.
Tension transmission across a supracellular network drives increased tissue rigidity in the Drosophila retina. Cell Rep. 2025 10 28; 44(10):116355.
PMID: 41042671
Learning via mechanosensitivity and activity in cytoskeletal networks.
Learning via mechanosensitivity and activity in cytoskeletal networks. ArXiv. 2025 Apr 21.
PMID: 40313666
One- and two-particle microrheology of soft materials based on optical-flow image analysis.
One- and two-particle microrheology of soft materials based on optical-flow image analysis. Soft Matter. 2025 Feb 12; 21(7):1373-1381.
PMID: 39865872
Direct detection of deformation modes on varying length scales in active biopolymer networks.
Direct detection of deformation modes on varying length scales in active biopolymer networks. bioRxiv. 2025 Jan 26.
PMID: 37292666
Mechanochemical control systems regulating animal cell size.
Mechanochemical control systems regulating animal cell size. Curr Opin Cell Biol. 2024 Dec; 91:102443.
PMID: 39504614
Mechanosensitive FHL2 tunes endothelial function.
Mechanosensitive FHL2 tunes endothelial function. bioRxiv. 2024 Jun 17.
PMID: 38948838
Cracked actin filaments as mechanosensitive receptors.
Cracked actin filaments as mechanosensitive receptors. Biophys J. 2024 10 01; 123(19):3283-3294.
PMID: 38894540
Motor crosslinking augments elasticity in active nematics.
Motor crosslinking augments elasticity in active nematics. Soft Matter. 2024 Mar 13; 20(11):2480-2490.
PMID: 38385209
Highly flexible PEG-LifeAct constructs act as tunable biomimetic actin crosslinkers.
Highly flexible PEG-LifeAct constructs act as tunable biomimetic actin crosslinkers. Soft Matter. 2024 Jan 31; 20(5):971-977.
PMID: 38190228