| Participant |
Abstract/Interest |
John Bechhoefer
Faculty
Physics
SFU
|
DNA replication, DNA conductivity, AFM/STM applications to biophysics, trapping techniques
|
David Boal
Faculty
Physics
SFU
|
cell mechanics, paleobiology
|
Stewart Chang
Post-doc
Mathematics
UBC
|
I am interested in mathematical and statistical modeling and their application to immunology. Specifically, I study antigen presentation, the process by which antigens are recognized as self or foreign, and how this specificity is achieved.
|
Jeanie Chui
Undergrad student
Physics
SFU
|
I am interested in single molecule issue and current biophysics issue. Biophysics is a very interesting topics since it is interdisciplinary science, and I am now working in a biophysics research laboratory.
|
Eric Cytrynbaum
Faculty
Mathematics
UBC
|
My primary research interest is in understanding, from a theoretical
standpoint, various dynamical phenomena in cellular and molecular
biology that rely on the dynamics and mechanics of the cytoskeleton,
including microtubules, actin, molecular motors and associated
regulatory proteins. Particular phenomena of interest include cell
division, organelle localization, organelle length regulation and
"self-geometry" sensing.
I also work on theoretical models in cardiac electrophysiology,
including the use of simple generic models of excitable media to
understand the onset of certain dynamical cardiac arrhythmias.
|
Leah Edelstein-Keshet
Faculty
Mathematics
UBC
|
I am interested in biochemical signalling to the actin cytoskeleton. I am working with Alexandra Jilkine and Yoichiro Mori on the role of small GTPases and on phosphoinositides in determination of cell polarity and in the initiation of cell motility.
|
Eldon Emberly
Faculty
Physics
SFU
|
biological computation, biological networks, computational biology
|
Patrick Fletcher
Grad student
Mathematics
UBC
|
I am interested in biological pattern formation and the mathematical modeling thereof. Specifically, cell physiology, electrophysiology, G-protein signaling.
|
Nancy Forde
Faculty
Physics
SFU
|
My research interests centre on
characterizing the mechanical properties of structural proteins. My lab
builds and uses techniques of single-molecule manipulation (optical
tweezers and magnetic tweezers) to probe the mechanical response of
single molecules to applied forces and torque, at different temperatures
and in different chemical environments. We are also interested in
investigating the dependence of mechanical response on the sequence of
these proteins, to guide design of new biomaterials and to better
understand the role of mutations in connective tissue disorders.
Fundamentally, we wish to develop a predictive model of mechanical
response that relates the observed response to an underlying free energy
surface.
|
Carl Hansen
Faculty
Physics
UBC
|
.
|
Adam Haesler
Grad student
MBB
SFU
|
My interest in the conference stems
from my undergraduate background, and graduate interests. For my MSc I
am studying an ion channel called HCN2, in the Young laboratory at Simon
Fraser University. I have an interest in Mathematics, Biochemistry, and
Biophysics, and am always looking for ways to expand my knowledge in
these fields. Also, I am always keen to meet people with similar interests.
|
Carrie Heyes
Undergrad student
MBB
SFU
|
.
|
Jennifer Hubbarde
Grad student
Mathematics
UBC
|
Previous work was developing a model
to estimate the fixation probability of lytic virus populations with
periodic bottlenecks, where burst size is large and fixed, and generation
times are exponentially distributed. Current work will be modelling the
cell dynamics of HIV in the body.
|
Amirmohamad Keyvanloo
Grad student
Physics
SFU
|
I am interested in lipid sciences and study the structural properties of lipid membranes.
I use Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)spectroscopy to investigate the physical behavior of systems containing two (binary)
or three (ternary) lipids. Such systems are called model membranes in
which the level of ordering of the lipid chains are studied. More
specifically, I study a model membrane containing sphingomyelin and
cholesterol. By changing the concentration of cholesterol and collecting
the NMR data at various temperatures I am aiming for mapping a partial
phase diagram of this system.
|
Chang Min Kim
Grad student
Physics
SFU
|
.
|
Jaegak Kim
Undergrad student
Biophysics
UBC
|
Hi! It's my first time to join such a scientific event and I still need
to study more than what I did study for my university life. However,
personally I want to learn more about how the medicine travels in the
body and want to develop new method or mechanism which works better(by
faster). I also want to learn about the animal locomotion.
|
Koji Kinoshita
Post-doc
Biomedical Engineering
Boston University
|
My research interest is to elucidate the mechanical function of cellular adhesion proteins, such as
“Integrins”, by using BFP (Biomembrane Force Probe) method and by optical tweezers method. Those proteins not only mediate the external binding of
cell-cell and cell-substrata adhesion at sites of inflammation. They may also play important roles in making internal networks with cytoskeletal
proteins under the cell membrane. Therefore, I am aiming to know the signaling system of the adhesion proteins on a cell.
|
Anastasia Kuzmin
Grad student
Biology
SFU
|
Vesicle trafficking in neurons
|
David Kwinter
Undergrad student
MBB
SFU
|
Axonal transport of dense core granules in cultured hippocampal neurons
|
David Lee
Grad student
Physics
SFU
|
Soft condense matter, Complex fluids, Polymers physics, Light scattering, Self-Assembly, Molecular membrane (Lipids), Cell mechanics, Molecular Dynamics
|
Michelle Lee
R.A.
Physics
SFU
|
Single-molecule manipulation using magnetic tweezers
|
Hongbin Li
Faculty
Chemistry
UBC
|
protein folding and unfolding at the single molecule level, protein engineering towards tailored mechanical properties
|
Yang Li
Grad student
Physics
SFU
|
Feedback control in an information-theoretic approach.
A feedback controller is commonly faced
with a trade-off between observation and actuation. Maximizing the rate
of information acquisition is a good strategy for measurement with
insurficient information. In light of this idea, a feedback control
system may be optimized by maximizing information flow within it. I
intend to explore the possibility of optimizing a control system or
measurement in this way. Finally, I would like to connect this limit to
actual physical systems, to find out how close real systems perform
relative to fundamental limits.
|
Karen Lo
Undergrad student
Biology
SFU
|
I am primarily interested in the regulation of motor proteins and mechanisms of motor protein movement in microtubule-based intracellular transport.
|
Dan Luciani
Post-doc
Cellular and Physiological Science
UBC
|
I have a general interest in the calcium signaling of pancreatic beta-cells, and recognize the strength of studying this (and similar questions) by a combination of experimental and theoretical means. My work has previously focused on the role of calcium-metabolism interactions in shaping the electrical and metabolic rhythms of the beta-cell. I am currently studying experimentally the role of intracellular calcium fluxes in the regulation of cell survival. This question is relevant for our understanding of the development of diabetes, as several variants of the disease are characterized by an increase in beta-cell death.
|
Thomas Luo
Undergrad student
Physics
UBC
|
.
|
Andre Marziali
Faculty
Physics
UBC
|
My aim is to develop new technologies for genomics and life sciences. My research group is engaged in a range of activities from engineering design of novel instruments for BC genomics groups, to development of automation for tissue microarray analysis, rapid genotyping, single molecule analysis methods using nanopores, and novel electrophoresis technologies. We collaborate with GenomeBC groups, the BC Cancer Agency Genome Sciences Centre, Stanford University, and University of California Santa Cruz.
Recent emphasis in our group has been on development of a self-assembling nanosensor composed of an organic nanopore and a DNA/protein probe that is electrophoretically inserted into the pore. We have demonstrated the ability to detect and identify single DNA molecules across a lipid bilayer using this sensor, and have shown that DNA molecules differing by a single nucleotide can be distinguished.
We have also recently developed a novel method of extracting and concentrating DNA from large volumes using a new form of non-linear electrophoresis. This method has significant commercial potential and is being commercialized through Boreal Bioengineering.
|
Alex Morriss-Andrews
Grad student
Physics
UBC
|
.
|
Eirikur Palsson
Faculty
Biology
SFU
|
I work on mathematical models in molecular and cellular systems. I also work on competition of organisms in ecological systems. My main focus is on studying cell signaling and cell movements, and how these processes combined with cell mobility and adhesion lead to the formation of a fully formed organism. I am also working on models studying resource competition in marine systems, under limited nutrients conditions.
|
Steven Plotkin
Faculty
Physics
UBC
|
.
|
Erin Prosk
Grad student
Mathematics
UBC
|
As a new graduate student, I am
interested in discovering and learning as much as I can about current
research in the field of mathematical applications to physical and
biological systems. I am excited to participate in the group workshops as
they may allow a closer look into techniques and methods used during the
modelling process.
|
Joerg Rottler
Faculty
Physics
UBC
|
Theory and simulation on soft condensed matter. Polymer physics, glassy materials and slow dynamics.
Electrostatic effects in complex fluids.
|
Sara Sadeghi
Grad student
Physics
SFU
|
.
|
Laleh Samii
Grad student
Physics
SFU
|
I am interested in designing and constructing of artificial Molecular Motors
from natural building blocks, without motor function, and studying their
performance by using single-molecule experiments.
|
Marinko Sarunic
Faculty
Engineering Science
SFU
|
Biomedical Imaging with Optical Coherence Tomography and Molecular Contrast in Biophotonic Imaging
|
Arnold Sikkema
Faculty
Physics
Trinity Western
|
I'm interested in emergence and phase
transitions in physical and biophysical systems, studying topics such as
synchronization phenomena in biology and pattern formation, using my
background in quantum phase transitions in condensed matter systems and
in philosophical perspectives in physics.
|
Benjamin Smith
Post-doc
Physics & Pathology
UBC
|
I use advanced micropipette aspiration techniques to probe the material properties of lipid bilayers. The
dynamic rupture strength, nonlinear elasticity, and permeability of giant unilamellar vesicles are used as reporters of molecular-to-mesoscale
interactions in membranes. Of particular interest: the lipid-condensing effect of cholesterol, the destabilization of membranes by antimicrobial peptides, and the perturbation of bilayer stress by membrane soluble drugs.
|
Suzana Straus
Faculty
Chemistry
UBC
|
.
|
Venkata Tayi
Grad student
Michael Smith Labs
UBC
|
My graduate research work involves the development of a mathematical model for retrovirus-mediated gene transfer into mammalian cells.
|
Jenifer Thewalt
Faculty
MBB/Physics
SFU
|
Membrane structure & dynamics
|
Carolina Tropini
Undergrad student
Biophysics
UBC
|
I am interested in applied biophysics, in particular in applications to clinical diagnostics.
|
Michael VanInsberghe
Undergrad student
Biophysics
UBC
|
.
|
Mya Warren
Grad student
Physics
UBC
|
I am interested in glassy dynamics in polymers and cellular structures.
|
Matthew Wiggin
Grad student
Physics
UBC
|
.
|
Ruobing Yang
Undergrad student
Biophysics
UBC
|
I am interested in the applications of physics to biological problems.
|
Edgar Young
Faculty
MBB
SFU
|
Interests include electrophysiology, single-molecule techniques, and motors.
|
Martin Zuckermann
Faculty
Physics
SFU
|
.
|
