Induced pluripotent stems cells have the potential to revolutionize medicine. A critical component to the translation of these cells into therapeutic applications is design principles for predictably and reproducibly culturing cells and efficiently differentiating them into cell types of interest. Typical culture conditions today result in colonies with heterogeneous shapes, sizes, and levels of gene expression. This project focuses on systematically controlling inputs such as shape, size, and spatial distribution of colonies using cell patterning. Techniques such as quantitative fluorescence microscopy, time lapse imaging, image analysis, gene reporter cell lines, and flow cytometry will be used to monitor culture heterogeneity, consistency, and the efficiency of differentiation under highly controlled conditions.

 

References

Bhadriraju K, et al: “Large-scale time-lapse microscopy of Oct4 expression in human embryonic stem cell colonies.” Stem Cell Research 17: 122-129, 2016

Halter M, et al: “Automated live cell imaging of green fluorescent protein degradation in individual fibroblasts.” Cytometry A 71(10): 827-834, 2007

 

key words

Quantitative biology; Stem cell; Pluripotency; Differentiation; Microscopy; Image analysis; Biological noise; Cell culture;

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral applicants