Graduate Student, Quantitative & Systems Biology, School of Natural Sciences
Advisor: Prof. Stephanie Woo
My PhD project explores the role of contact inhibition of locomotion (CIL) within the early migration of endodermal cells. Taking advantage of the zebrafish embryo's external development and transparency I utilize the model for a microscopy based in vivo study of the effects of CIL on endodermal cell migration. With pharmacological and genetic perturbations I've identified the cell surface receptor Epha2 and the Rho GTPase RhoA as mediators of the CIL process. Currently, I'm quantifying the effects of CIL attenuation upon the migration and dispersal of endodermal cells to aid in understanding it's purpose within development.
