Awarded in 2014
Home Department: Chemical Engineering
Faculty Advisors: Alexander Dunn (Chemical Engineering) and Vittorio Sebastiano (Obstetrics & Gynecology)

Research Title: Role of Hippo pathway-mediated mechanical signaling in human embryonic stem cell self-renewal

Research Description: The growth of a human embryonic stem cell (hESC) is critically dependent on its mechanical environment and its contact with the neighbors. However, the molecular mechanisms that connect environmental cues to downstream gene regulation are unknown, both in hESCs and other cell types. The Dunn lab has engineered a single-molecule E-cadherin tension sensing module and a transcriptional coactivator YAP fusion protein to help unravel this mystery. With these tools, they aim to provide a molecular explanation for how mechanical signaling at cell-cell junctions regulates cell proliferation, which will have a transformative impact on the field of developmental and cancer biology.

WHERE IS SHE NOW?

Eva is a Principal Scientist at Bristol Myers Squibb.