Living Matter
Collective movement appears all around the living world from protein motors, bacteria colonies to schools of fish and flocks of birds. Despite dramatic biological differences, these systems exhibit similar patterns and dynamics pointing to common principles independent of microscopic details.
Updates
We received research and equipment grants from the Israel Science Foundation.
We're Hiring!
Join us for exciting opportunities:
We have funded positions for MSc, PhD, and postdoc candidates who will explore the physics of multicellular organization, develop advanced microscopy, and image analysis methods (more details).
Contact us by mail: yashunsk [at] bgu [dot] ac.il
Research
About the lab
Our research focuses on self-shaping and tissue morphogenesis mechanisms. Comparing experiments and theory we are exploring the fundamental laws of physics governing the organization of multicellular ensembles across different types of living cells.
We are developing novel techniques to measure and control organization of multicellular structures. Our experiments rely on microscopy, microfabricated environments, and image analysis algorithms.
Research topics
Collective cell dynamics & Multicellular self-shaping
Structure - Dynamics - Function interplay in cellular tissues
Experimental methods for characterization of multicellular properties
Optical methods for live cell imaging
Microscopy & Image analysis automation for cell imaging
Publications
Crisscross multilayering of cell sheets
T. Sarkar, V. Yashunsky, L. Brézin, CM. Mercader, T. Aryaksama, M. Lacroix, T. Risler, JF. Joanny, P. Silberzan, PNAS Nexus, (2023), 2(3), 034, bioRxiv: 2021.06.22.449403
Chiral edge current in nematic cell monolayers
V. Yashunsky, D. J. G. Pearce, C. Blanch-Mercader, F. Ascione, P. Silberzan and L. Giomi, Physical Review X, (2022) 12, 041017, arXiv: 2010.15555
The 2020 motile active matter roadmap
G. Gompper, [...], V. Yashunsky, P. Silberzan, et al.,
Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, (2020), 32, 193001
Turbulent Dynamics of Epithelial Cell Cultures
Blanch-Mercader C, Yashunsky V, Garcia S, Duclos G, Giomi L, and Silberzan P.
Physical Review Letters (2018), 120, arXiv:1711.01568
Spontaneous shear flow in confined cellular nematics
Duclos G, Blanch-Mercader C, Yashunsky V, Salbreux G, Joanny JF, Prost J and Silberzan P, Nature Physics, (2018) 14
Controlling Confinement and Topology to Study Collective Cell Behaviors
Duclos G, Deforet M, Yevick H, Cochet-Escartin O, Ascione F, Moitrier S, Sarkar S, Yashunsky V, Bonnet I, Buguin A, Silberzan P., Cell Migration. Methods in Molecular Biology, (2018), 1749: 387-399, Humana Press, New York, NY
Ice–solidification project
M. Chasnitsky M, Yashunsky V, Braslavsky I, International Journal of Thermal Sciences, (2021) 161:106734, arXiv:2011.04270
Labyrinth ice pattern formation induced by near-infrared irradiation
Guy Preis S, Chayet H, Katz A, Yashunsky V, Kaner A, Ullman S and Braslavsky I, Science Advances, (2019), 5(3): eaav1598
☞ Under just the right light, ice turns into a twisting labyrinth (Nature Highlight)
Directional freezing for the cryopreservation of adherent mammalian cells on a substrate
Bahari L, Bein A, Yashunsky V, Braslavsky I, PLoS One, (2018), 13(2): e0192265
Funding
