MUKHINA LAB
What are we doing?
We aim to understand how cells process mechanical information. Cells are constantly at work — generating, sensing, and transmitting internal stresses and strains. We view the micron-scale 4D patterns formed by these mechanical perturbations as a biochemistry-agnostic means of encoding information and seek to resolve the principles linking intracellular mechanics to the diverse functional outputs of the cell, both physiological and pathological.
How do we do it?
Our roots are in condensed matter physics, nanotechnology, microscopy, and genome biology. We combine these ingredients to create tools that deliver direct, quantitative mechanical information straight from the nucleus. We then use this information (often in the form of multidimensional image datasets) to visualize intra-chromatin stress fields and relate these maps to spatial and temporal coherency and directionality of transitions between chromatin architectures with distinct functionalities as they arise in the interphase and mitotic cell.
Join us
In the Mukhina lab, we enjoy intellectual free play and embrace crossing interdisciplinary borders to foster progress. We value having an open environment for scientific learning and exploration and welcome people of different backgrounds and identities to join us. Every member of our lab helps shape an inclusive lab culture. We support and learn from one another while navigating our independent research projects. We are committed to open science and frequently collaborate with groups across the scientific community to overcome methodological limitations.