Mariya Savinov

Research overview:

My doctoral research with Alex Mogilner focused on bringing new insights into the mechanics and dynamics of in actomyosin structures, with a special focus on experimentally observed phenomena of in vitro reconstituted networks. Together with Prof. Kinneret Keren’s lab we demonstrated how changing system size can generate varied contractile patterns in actomyosin networks immersed in water-in-oil droplets (Krishna et al. 2024, Nature Physics). I have also collaborated with the Cytomorpho Lab of Profs. Laurent Blanchoin and Manuel Théry to reveal the critical role of friction in patterning contraction of actomyosin networks (Colin et al. 2023, PNAS). In collaboration with Prof. Charles S. Peskin, I used the Immersed Boundary Method to demonstrate how bulk actomyosin networks mediate long-range interaction between stress fibers.

More recently, I also delved into other biomechanical processes, investigating phenomena and mechanisms underlying directed collective cell migration in collaboration with the Carmofon Lab at NYU.

I am now interested in developing new mathematical modeling approaches to investigate the undelrying principles of adaptive multicellular collective dynamics, collaborating with experimental groups to use prokaryotic and eukaryoatic model systems as a basis for comparative analysis.