Sam Ramirez

Postdoctoral Fellow
sramirez@unc.edu
I’m currently investigating migration of mammalian cells guided by directional external stimuli. One project focuses on mathematical modeling and parameter inference to understand how a directional external cue induces biased cell motion. In another project I’m using modern image analysis tools based on machine learning to understand how cell morphology and cell deformation determines cell motility. The aim of these projects is to shed light into how cytoskeleton regulation and activity enable cells to migrate following gradients of external cues. This knowledge will contribute to understand health related processes that rely on directed cell migration such as cancer metastasis, wound healing, and immune response.