Section: Rotations

Postdoctoral Position Available

Lab Page Link

Yu-Li Wang, Ph.D.

Academic Role: Professor

Faculty Appointment(s) In:
   Physiology

Other Affiliation(s):
   Cell Biology
   Cell Dynamics Group
   Interdisciplinary Graduate Program

Potential Rotation Projects

The laboratory combines biological, chemical, and physical approaches to investigate a wide range of questions related to cell migration and cell division.  The general emphasis is to detect and probe molecular functions in living cells by microscopy.  Described below is the general scope of research for graduate students.  Projects are typically determined taking into consideration students’ background, interests, and future goals.

Area #1: The mechanism of cell migration.  Cell migration involves complex crosstalks between signal transduction pathways and the cytoskeleton.  The project will use model systems developed in this laboratory to investigate normal or cancerous cell migration in a tissue-like environment.  The trainee may apply our unique techniques to image mechanical forces exerted by migrating cells, or to probe cellular responses to mechanical stimulations.  Experiments will be performed with living cells transfected with various GFP probes.  Functions of specific signaling pathways in guiding cell migration will be investigated by gene manipulation or pharmacological approaches combined with live cell imaging.

Area #2: The mechanism of cell division. Cytokinesis, the final step in cell division causing a cell to pinch into two, involves close coordination between cortical ingression and chromosomal separation.  The project will use 2-D, 3-D or 4-D imaging to investigate the dynamics of various structural and signal transduction components.  Experiments will employ GFP technology, molecular biological, chemical, and physical manipulations, and photobleaching, photactivation, and photoablation approaches, to probe the mechanism of ingression and the function of regulatory pathways during cytokinesis

Office: Biotech IV, Suite 327
Phone: 508-856-8781
E-mail: Yu-Li.Wang.Forward@umassmed.edu
Keywords: Cell Migration, Cell Dynamics, Biomedical Engineering, Mitosis, Imaging and Microscopy

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Postdoctoral Position Available A postdoctoral position is available to study in this laboratory. Contact Dr. Wang for additional details.