Upadhyaya Joins Graduate Program Faculty

An image from Upadhyaya's research in biomimetic systems for actin-based motility.

The Graduate Program in Bioengineering is pleased to announce that Assistant Professor Arpita Upahyaya (Physics, IPST) will become a participating faculty member.

Nature has engineered many molecular and cellular machines that induce motion at different scales, from the level of single cells to that of multicellular tissues. The cell membrane, the cytoskeletal polymers and other proteins collectively form a highly nonlinear, adaptive dynamical system that allows the cell to respond to its environment. Research in Professor Upadhyaya's laboratory combines mathematical modeling, quantitative imaging and genetic manipulation to uncover how signaling networks and physical properties of the cell and its surroundings control force generation and directed cellotion. Current projects include actin polymerization, biological springs, morphogenetic cell movements, surface mechanics in yeast, membrane nanotubes, and direction sensing.

To learn more about Professor Uphadhyaya and her research, visit her website »

Published December 5, 2006