Denisin Aleksandra K

I am a Bioengineering PhD student working with Prof Beth Pruitt at Stanford University. I am interested in studying how cells interpret their physical environment (substrate stiffness, ligand density) to alter their morphology and behavior. To better characterize mechanically-tunable materials used in these experiments, I have focused on microscale indentation testing of polyacrylamide hydrogels using Atomic Force Microscopy. I aim to apply my characterization efforts to evaluate how heart muscle cells adapt their structure and force generation (contractility) in response to substrate stiffness mimicking developing, adult, and diseased heart tissue. As an undergraduate at UC Berkeley (BS in bioengineering: 2012), I engaged in research to develop sample preparation strategies for analyzing clinical samples on microfluidic immunoassays, specifically tear fluid. Through summer internships in 2010, I investigated the design of hydrodynamic flow biosensors for bacteria detection in raw samples (US Naval Research Lab). In the summers of 2011 and 2012, I upgraded components of and developed imaging assays for novel light sheet microscopy systems to enable continuous imaging of live developing embryos and tissues of zebrafish and fruit flies (Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Janelia). I am very interested in further pursuing the intersection of microfluidic analysis platforms and light-based microscopy for applications in both basic research and translation to clinical medicine. Before moving to California, I lived in Alexandria, Virginia. Outside the lab, I enjoy performing music (alto sax, piano), sailing, kickboxing, yoga, and science outreach (via interactive demos/presentations).