Education

B.Sc. Biology, McGill University, 2003–2006
Ph.D., biomedical sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, 2006–2013
Post-Doc, Johns Hopkins University, 2014–2018

Research Interests

The goal of the Edwards laboratory is to develop a deep mechanistic understanding of how cells move. Cell migration is an important process during the development of organisms, and it plays a role in the pathophysiology of diseases such as cancer.  We use a range of cell biology and microscopy techniques to decipher the basic mechanisms of directed migration in Dictyostelium. The dynamic extension and retraction of the protrusions that drive cellular motility are controlled by the coordinated activity of the signal transduction and cytoskeletal cellular networks.  We are particularly interested in the molecular architecture of the feedback loops that control signal processing, and amplification within these networks.  We are also interested in how cells use signal transduction networks to integrate guidance cues from different modalities as they migrate through signal-rich environments.

Teaching Interests

I am fortunate to have the opportunity to introduce students to the microscopic world of cells.  My teaching is informed by my desire to train both future experimentalists and science-literate professionals.  Everyone can benefit from the problem-solving and analytical skills that a thorough education in the sciences provides.  To that end, my classrooms are lively interactive spaces that focus on the history and future of scientific inquiry, and the tools and skills used by scientists to study the biology of cells.