Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship

Cellular and Molecular Mechanics and BioNanotechnology (CMMB)

Training the next generation

of leaders who will define the new

frontiers of cellular and molecular

mechanics and bionanotechnology

For More Information

Laura A Miller, Program Manager

Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory

1256 MNTL, MC-249

208 North Wright Street

Urbana, IL 61801

Phone: 217-244-7092

Fax: 217-214-6375

E-mail: arriola@illinois.edu

http://cmmb-igert.illinois.edu

Research Opportunities for PhD Students Working at the Intersection of Biology and Engineering

Critical experiments during the last decade show

a fundamental link between the micro and macro

mechanical environment (i.e., intracellular

forces, local shear, gravitational force) and a

variety of cell functionalities, their lineage, and

phenotype. These findings pose the grand

challenge: what is the underlying molecular

mechanism that the cells employ to transduce

mechanical signals to biochemical pathways?

In response to this challenge the CMMB IGERT

has launched an inter-disciplinary research effort

with national and international collaborators.

Conducted at molecular

to inter-cellular scales,

this research involves

biological experiments,

imaging, large scale

computations, and

development of new

engineering

methodologies to

address the challenge in

a quantitative way

previously not available

to the research

community.

Research Themes

1. Molecular Mechanics

2. Cellular Mechanics

3. Cells and the Extracellular Matrix

Participating Faculty

Irfan S Ahmad ◦ Rashid Bashir (PI) ◦ Marni Boppart ◦

William M Brieher ◦ Brian T Cunningham ◦ Lizanne

DeStefano ◦ Nicholas X Fang ◦ Martha L Gillette (PI) ◦

Taekjip Ha ◦ Brendan A Harley ◦ K Jimmy Hsia (PI) ◦

Michael Insana ◦ Eric Jakobsson ◦ Hyunjoon Kong ◦

Mark S Kuhlenschmidt ◦ Deborah E Leckband ◦

Jennifer A Lewis ◦ Gang Logan Liu ◦ Ralph G Nuzzo ◦

Supriya Prasanth ◦ Umberto Ravaioli ◦ Taher A

Saif (PI) ◦ Lawrence B Schook ◦ Klaus J Schulten ◦

Paul R Selvin ◦ Michael Sheetz (PI) ◦ Jonathan V

Sweedler ◦ Emadeddin Tajkhorshid ◦ Kimani C

Toussaint ◦ Fei Wang ◦ Ning Wang ◦ Yingxiao

Peter Wang ◦ Amy Jaye Wagoner Johnson

Research Examples

To further the understanding of the intricate

cellular and molecular scale bio-mechanical

processes, a collaborative and integrated

approach is needed that brings together the skills

and expertise of applied scientists,

nanotechnologists, molecular and cell biologists,

surface and interfacial chemists, mechanical and

bioengineers, and biophysicists. The research

projects undertaken by the CMMB IGERT Trainees

and participating faculty will have potential

impact in application areas such as tissue and

regenerative medicine and engineering, cellular

and molecular medicine, mechanobiology,

neuroscience, bio-sensing and actuation, cellular

factories, and synthetic biology.

Becoming a Trainee

Students beginning the last year of their

undergraduate degree should contact the CMMB

IGERT Program Manager to discuss their research

interests and mention the CMMB IGERT in their

Statement of Purpose when applying to their

respective department.

Current UIUC students should discuss the CMMB

IGERT with their advisor. Faculty will be notified when

proposals are being accepted each spring semester

for the coming academic year.

The CMMB IGERT aims to provide a highly

interdisciplinary environment to empower trainees

to become leaders in cellular and molecular

mechanics and bionanotechnoloy. Trainees will:

Learn core concepts in their complementary

field through lab rotations, co-advisement, a

proposed two-track curriculum, and an

introductory course in Cellular and Molecular

Mechanics and BioNanotechnology

Have hands-on laboratory experience in a

Summer School focused on the basics of

biological and engineering/physical science

experimental methods

Participate in an international collaborative

research experience

Be involved in the management and direction of

the CMMB IGERT and have opportunities for

collaboration with other trainees and faculty

through the Seminar Series and the Annual

Symposium

Earn a $30,000 salary over 12 months

(renewable for up to two years) and a tuition

waiver

The Trainee Experience

Silicon probe to measure cell mechanical properties (left) and

stereo-lithography to build a model of arterial branching structures

and PEG structure.

Analysis of spine formation

in hippocampal neurons for

use in substrate-engineered

micro environments.

3-D reconstruction of an

immature rat hippocampal

neuron @ 11 days in vitro

(DIV) reveals collateral

filopodia, markers of

immature spines on

developing dendrites.

Sequential image stacks

enable 3-D cell

reconstruction for

quantitative analyses of

filopodial size and

branchpoints (10µm grid).

CCD image of a single

Cy3 molecule. The width is

~250 nm, but the center can

be located to within w/(S/N)

where S/N= signal to noise.

The S/N is ~√N, where

N = total number of photons.

N=104 making the centers

uncertainty ± 1.3 nm

(Yildiz, Science, 2003).

Nanosecond MD simulations of

tetrameric GlpF in a hydrated patch

of POPE lipid bilayer characterized

the complete pathway of substrate

conduction in the channel

(Jansen 2001).