Home Department: Mathematics
Mentor: Jan Skotheim (Biology)

“Mathematical Modeling of Cell Size Control Mechanisms in S. Cerevisiae”

Joshua will focus on understanding the mechanisms that control cell size in budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) through mathematical modeling and experimental techniques. The team at the Skotheim lab will genetically engineer yeast strains with modified sensitivities to environmental factors. Using in-house microscopes, movies of these yeast strains will be captured and analyzed using cell segmentation and tracking software to investigate cell growth and division dynamics. The collected data will be compared to existing yeast strains with known cell size phenotypes to gain insights into population trends and improve current mathematical models of cell size regulation. This work will potentially contribute to the understanding and treatment of diseases such as cancer.