Research Interests
We seek to understand the physical constraints on when and where enveloped viruses can infect. This includes how viruses interact with membranes, which parts of the cell are permissive for entry, and how physical mechanism impacts viral evolution and future viral threats. To do this, we use a combination of single-event optical microscopy and molecular dynamics simulations. The data from both of these are analyzed using approaches from statistical mechanics and machine learning. By knitting together computational and experimental approaches with a deep appreciation for the statistical behavior of complex systems, we hope to uncover biophysical mechanism and help anticipate future pandemics.
Area of Specialization
Infectious Diseases, Statistical Mechanics of Biomolecules, Single-event kinetics, Biomolecular Dynamics and Simulation, Optical Microscopy and Image Analysis