Megan McClean

LAB WEBSITE:

http://mccleanlab.bme.wisc.edu/

FOCUS GROUPS:

Systems Biology; Molecular & Genome Biology of Microbes

RESEARCH DESCRIPTION:

Research in the McClean Lab is focused on understanding how cells sense and process diverse stimuli in order to survive and thrive. We focus on understanding (1) signaling specificity, (2) transcription factor regulation and (3) controllability of biological signaling as well as developing better optogenetic and microfluidic tools for answering these questions. My research program currently uses Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or budding yeast, as a model organism for addressing these questions. Budding yeast exists as a unicellular microbe and therefore must be exquisitely aware of its environment in order to survive and compete with neighboring cells. Thus, there are many interesting signaling pathways in which to address questions about biological signal processing. In particular, my experimental research has focused on understanding signaling specificity and kinetics in the mitogen-activated kinase (MAPK) pathways as well as transcription factor regulation in response to environmental stress. We also focus intensively on building better tools for interrogating and probing biological networks. We have developed a microfluidic platform for precise stimulation of budding yeast signaling pathways. Additionally, we have developed an optogenetic system that in combination with a culturing platform allows us to control protein concentration in real-time in cultures of microbes.

ALSO A TRAINER IN THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS:

Biomedical Engineering, Biophysics Graduate Program, Microbiology Doctoral Training Program (MDTP)

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