research

Cells comprise billions of biomolecules that self-organize into dozens of microscopic assemblies called biomolecular condensates. Condensates are found across the tree of life, play key roles in healthy cells, and are misregulated or aberrant in several diseased states. Recent work, including ours, show that phase transitions are increasingly linked to assembling condensates in living cells. Our initial research (below) aims to advance this emerging paradigm by developing quantitative frameworks to model and engineer biomolecular condensates as functional multiphase materials and dynamic biological assemblies. We adopt an interdisciplinary approach, weaving together pen-and-paper theory, computation and simulation aided by machine-learning, and close integration with experimental data. We highly value collaborative research and are fortunate to work closely with many talented experimentalists across the country.