Our group studies the physics of living and active systems. We work at the interface of soft active matter, biological physics, and statistical mechanics, combining theoretical analysis with computational tools to understand phenomena inspired by experiments.
Much of our work focuses on active remodeling: situations in which active particles modify their surroundings, and those modified surroundings then guide future motion. This feedback is common in biological and synthetic active systems. For example, migrating cells can leave behind trails that influence later cell motion, while active fluids can entangle polymers, changing the structure of the material and the flow through it.
A major motivation for this research is understanding metastasis. Cancer cells actively remodel the tissue around them as they invade, and we seek to identify the physical and biophysical conditions that enable this process. Our long-term goal is to use physics-based modeling to help clarify mechanisms of cancer progression and contribute to future strategies for improving human health.
