I'm currently a postdoc (Courant Instructor/Assistant Professor) at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences associated with New York University.
My work broadly pursues using mathematics to understand how biological systems function because of randomness rather than in spite of it. My specific interests can be found below.
Upcoming events
If you're at one of these and have overlapping interests: let's talk!
Jan 6- Jan 11, 2019: Gordon Research Conference: Stochastic Physics in Biology, Ventura, CA
Jan 16- Jan 19, 2019: AMS/MAA Joint Math Meetings, Baltimore, MD
May 19- May 23, 2019: SIAM Conference on Applied Dynamical Systems, Snowbird, UT
Molecular motors & intracellular transport
Teams of motor proteins deliver cargoes over long distances within cells. Individually, motors seem random but collectively, they unite robustly enough for cells to rely on.
How does the randomness of individual motors affect transport? I'm particularly interested in nonprocessive motors, which take only 1-2 steps before detaching.
Collaborators: Jim Keener, Michael Vershinin.
Related work
CE Miles, SD Lawley, JP Keener
O Osunbayo, CE Miles, BJ Reddy, JP Keener, MD Vershinin
CE Miles, JP Keener
Ligand & receptor signaling
Cells send signals by releasing particles (ligands) that diffuse around in search of targets (receptors), an inherently random process.
I'm interested in how dynamics of the receptors (e.g. themselves diffusing along a surface) helps or hurts the search time.
Collaborators: Sean Lawley.
Related work
SD Lawley, CE Miles
SD Lawley, CE Miles
Actin dynamics
I'm currently working on understanding how chemical and mechanical cues intertwine to regulate actin networks (especially in cell protrusion).
Collaborators: Alex Mogilner.
Other publications
CE Miles, JP Keener
CE Miles, I Jouny, G Gordon
Teaching
In Fall 2018, I'm teaching MATH-UA 123: Calculus III, section 4.
Summer 2018 Math 3150 PDEs for Engineers
Spring 2017 Math 1180 Prob & Stats for Biologists (lab)
Fall 2016 Math 1170 Calc for Biologists (lab)
Summer 2016 Math 3140 Vector Calculus & PDEs
Spring 2016 Math 1321 Accelerated Engineering Calc II
Fall 2015 Math 2250 ODEs & Linear Algebra
Spring 2015 Math 1320 Engineering Calculus II
Fall 2014 Math 1310 Engineering Calculus I
Miscellany
As a first-generation college student, I'm passionate about scientific outreach, especially to children and underrepresented populations.
In recent years, I was a Science Communication Fellow and participated in the NSF INCLUDES program for incarcerated youth.
In the rare instances of spare time from all of the above activities, you might find me: prowling for vegan food, rolling for initiative, or complaining about my extremely needy cat Piper.