As the barrier between the organism and the outside world, the epidermis routinely encounters, and must resist, mechanical stress. Yet the epidermis also regularly undergoes remodeling to repair even minor wounds. This represents the fundamental architectural challenge of the epidermis—balancing strength and plasticity.
My research focuses on the molecular basis for this balance. Protein complexes called cytoskeletons establish cell shape, generate force, and ultimately determine tissue architecture. Using tissue engineering, advanced imaging, and computer vision pipelines to measure cytoskeleton networks and their interactions, I study how the cellular machinery drives epidermal remodeling during wound healing.
Advisor: Gaudenz Danuser, PhD (lab website)
Support:
UT Southwestern Physician Scientist Training Program
Dermatology Foundation
NIH T32 AR065969
Department of Dermatology
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Department of Internal Medicine
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Emory University School of Medicine
Emory University School of Medicine
Biochemistry, Cell, and Developmental Biology
Advisor: Andrew Kowalczyk, PhD (lab website)