David Odde, Ph.D.
Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Ph.D. Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Rutgers University 1995
M.S. Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Rutgers University 1992
B.ChE. Chemical Engineering, University of Minnesota 1988
Clarence Chan
Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 2008
B.S. Biology, Harvey Mudd College 1998
chan0659@umn.edu Research Interests: Utilizing a systems approach to understanding complex cell phenomenon. My most recent work involves understanding growth cone and cell motility through integrating experiment with computational modeling of motor-clutch motility. We have also extended similar ideas towards the understanding of kinetochore microtubules end-tracking (work in progress).
Dominique Seetapun
Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 2011
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Chemistry Minor, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 2003
seet0007@umn.edu Research Interests: I am interested in the role of microtubule (MT) dynamics during cell polarization and how the cell-length-dependent model for MT accumulation (Seetapun and Odde, Curr Biol. 2010) applies more generally. I am also interested in investigating how the MT plus-end tracking protein (+TIP) EB1 tip tracks along growing MT plus ends. Does the MT GTP cap play a role in tip tracking? If so, what is the size of the GTP cap in vivo? Through a combination of modeling and experiment the dynamics of EB1 at the MT plus end can also be examined.
Brian Castle
Research Interests: Molecular mechanisms of microtubule assembly dynamics and how they are regulated by MAPs and microtubule-targeting drugs.
Benjamin Bangasser
B.S. Chemical Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology 2009
bang0078@umn.edu Research Interests: I am studying the mechanosensitivity of glioma brain cancer cells on 2D substrates. I use experiments to inform a mathematical model describing the mechanism of cell mechanosensitivity.
Rebecca Klank
B.S. Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University 2009
klan0038@umn.edu Research Interests: I am interested in understanding the cytoskeletal machinery that drives the migration of highly invasive brain cancer cells in the disease glioblastoma multiforme. I am also interested in how cellular interactions with the mechanical, chemical, and geometrical brain microenvironment affect motility.
Emily Tubman
M.E. Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego 2008
B.S. Physics, University of Michigan 2006
B.D.A. Dance, University of Michigan 2006
tubma006@umn.edu Research Interests: I am interested in studying how motor proteins affect chromosome congression in mammalian cells and how tension between kinetochores on sister chromatids facilitates proper bi-orientation on the mitotic spindle.
Jordan Bernens
Research Interests: I am studying microtubule dynamics on the microscale and the overall distribution of mictrotubules within the cell in LLCPK porcine kidney epithelial cells. More specifically I am interested in the effect of Taxol, an anti-cancer drug, on these dynamics and distribution.
Alistair McIntyre
Research Interests: My primary interest is GTP-tubulin's role in microtubule rescue. Additionally, I am looking at how quickly GTP-tubulin is hydrolyzed when in the microtubule lattice and how drebrin (or lack of drebrin) affects cell motility.
Benjamin Fuller
Research Interests: I am working on synthesizing polyacrylamide gels with a gradients of stiffness using UV photoactivation for polymerization. Human glioma brain cancer cells will be cultured on these gels to study their behavior and possible preferential migration based on stiffness.
Completed Postdoctoral Felowships
Bruce Gao, Ph.D. (University of Miami, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering)
2000-2003.
Currently Associate Professor (Tenured), Dept. of Bioengineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC.
ZGAO@clemson.edu Theodore Tower, Ph.D. (University of Minnesota, Dept. of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science)
2001-2002.
Currently Technical Leader at Kimberly-Clark, Neenah, WI.
tedtower1@yahoo.com Erkan Tüzel, Ph.D. (University of Minnesota, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy)
2007-2009.
Currently Assistant Professor (Tenure-Track), Dept. of Physics, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA.
etuzel@WPI.EDU Completed Ph.D. Degrees
Joseph Fass
“Investigation of neurite initiation and elongation for neural network engineering applications,” 2003.
Program: Chemical Engineering
Currently Bioinformatics Programmer / Analyst, UC Davis Genome Center, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA.
joseph.fass@gmail.com Yaakov Nahmias
“Laser-guided direct writing for three-dimensional tissue engineering analysis and application of radiation forces,” 2004.
Program: Biomedical Engineering
Currently Assistant Professor (Tenure-Track), Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Hebrew Univ., Jerusalem, Israel.
ynahmias@cs.huji.ac.il Mauris DeSilva
“Investigation of micropatterning and micromechanical forces towards engineering neural networks with defined connectivity,” 2005.
Program: Materials Science and Engineering
Currently a Research Scientist, Naval Medical Research Unit, San Antonio, TX.
mauris.desilva@amedd.army.mil Andrew Bicek
“Origin and Consequences of Microtubule Bending in Living Cells,” 2007.
Program: Biomedical Engineering
Currently Staff Scientist, Boston Scientific, Inc., Maple Grove, MN
Andrew.Bicek@bsci.com Melissa Gardner
“Modeling and analysis of microtubule-mediated chromosome transport during mitosis,” 2008.
Program: Biomedical Engineering
Currently Assistant Professor (Tenure-Track), Genetics, Cell Biology, & Development Dept., University of Minnesota.
klei0091@umn.edu Clarence Chan
“Cellular adhesion dynamics: investigation of molecular clutch attachment and force transmission,” 2008.
Program: Biomedical Engineering
Currently postdoc in the laboratory of David Odde, University of Minnesota.
chan0659@umn.edu Dominique Seetapun
“Microtubule Dynamics and Neuronal Polarity Establishment During Neurite Initiation”
Program: Biomedical Engineering
Currently postdoc in the laboratory of David Odde, University of Minnesota.
seet0007@umn.edu Former Undergraduate Researchers
Kwaku Opoku
B.S. Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota 2009
B.A. Applied Science, Concordia College, Moorehead , MN
Currently attends the University of Washington
opokuk@u.washington.edu
