Colbie C
- Research Program Mentor
PhD at Vanderbilt University
Expertise
Cell biology, cytoskeleton, microscopy, biophysics, developmental biology, science communication and advocacy, science policy
Bio
I earned my PhD in Cell and Developmental Biology from Vanderbilt University and have a BA in physics from Mount Holyoke College. Currently, I specialize in understanding the regulation of actin protrusions, and how the cytoskeleton contributes to biological plasticity at multiple scales. My research work is primarily in microscopy, and I have experience with a variety of advanced microscopy techniques, including laser scanning and spinning disk confocal microscopy, super-resolution microscopy, multi-photon microscopy and electron microscopy. My graduate work was funded by the National Institutes of Health, and I was the ASCB paper of the year awardee in 2021. I am passionate about science communication--both helping other scientists learn how to best communicate their research to all audiences, and using science communication to help the general public understand how to learn and interpret scientific knowledge. I am an active participate in various science policy initiatives, including working with the UK Science and Innovation Network to increase retention of LGBTQ+ scientists, and advocating for policy at the federal and local level with the American Society of Cell Biology. I am also a competitive weightlifter, and compete all over the US.Project ideas
How cell motility contributes to disease
Many cell types in the body are capable of movement, this is known as "cell motility". However, this motility can be altered in many diseases, where cells either move too quickly or not enough. Understanding how cell motility is altered in disease can be important for determining disease treatments
Regulation of actin protrusion length
Cells use a variety of building blocks to build structures to help them thrive in their environment. Actin is a cytoskeletal protein that cells use to build protrusions that are used to sense and interact with the world around them. However, the length of these protrusions must be carefully controlled.