Research

In my research on the notochord, I focus on the mechanical properties and structural arrangement of vacuolated cells, which play a critical role in vertebrate spine development. The notochord serves as a scaffold for the developing spine, and the vacuolated cells within it are crucial for maintaining its structural integrity. I am investigating how these cells respond to genetic and mechanical perturbations, aiming to better understand how their physical properties contribute to notochord function. This work provides new insights into the biophysical properties of the notochord and helps us understand developmental disorders like scoliosis, with potential applications in bio-inspired materials and tissue engineering.

In my spindle research, I investigated the physical dynamics of the mitotic spindle during cell division, focusing on how it behaves when disrupted. Working in the Elting lab, I utilized laser microsurgery to cut the spindle in the fission yeast *Schizosaccharomyces pombe*. Contrary to expectations that the spindle would collapse entirely, the two halves remained intact and rapidly collapsed towards each other, suggesting the presence of an unknown mechanical connection. I led a project that disproved previous theories, revealing that the spindle’s collapse was not due to nuclear envelope relaxation but rather driven by microtubule-dependent motors, including dynein and kinesin. This work resulted in multiple first-author publications and earned recognition, such as an Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award. These findings provided key insights into the mechanics of cell division and the forces that ensure accurate chromosome segregation.