Join Professor Andela Saric of Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) for a research seminar as part of the Force Talk series entitled "Cell shape-shifting across the tree of life".

 

Abstract:

Cells are exquisite soft materials that commonly shape-shift to fulfil many of their functions — such as moving, dividing, connecting with partners, or exchanging material. Today Andela will discuss their recent research on computational modelling of non-equilibrium cell shape changes across the tree of life, carried out in close collaboration with experiments on living and synthetic cells. Andela will first focus on cell reshaping during cell division at different points in evolution. Then, she will address cell reshaping driven by chemical exchanges between friends and foes in ecological communities. She will place these results this in the context of evolution of complex cells and the construction of synthetic cell-like systems. Overall, Andela will show how modelling can help us understand the emergence of life from its building blocks and guide the design of artificial structures that mimic life at the nanoscale. 

Speaker:

Andela Saric is a Professor at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria, near Vienna. She obtained a PhD in Chemical Physics from Columbia University in 2013, followed by a research fellowship at the University of Cambridge and Emmanuel College. She started her research group at University College London in 2016, before moving to Vienna in 2022. Her lab develops computer models for molecular self-organisation far from thermodynamic equilibrium, applied to living and synthetic cells. She is an EMBO Young Investigator, Allen Distinguished Investigator, and a recipient of the ERC Starting Grant, Soft Matter Lectureship, the P. G. de Gennes award.

 

Mechanics of Life Leverhulme DSP Force Talks Series

Force Talks is a seminar series hosted by the Mechanics of Life Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarship Programme at King's College London. We are honoured to welcome world leaders in mechanobiology.

The series aims to showcase the rapidly expanding interdisciplinary field of mechanobiology and mechanical forces. We welcome those from academia and industry to attend and take part in the discussions.

The programme is funded by the Leverhulme Trust doctoral scholarship grant "Understanding the mechanics of life".

Learn more about the Mechanics of Life Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarship Programme

How to join:

This event will take place online via Microsoft Teams. To receive the link to join  register for the webinar via the "Go to this event" button. 

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