ARC Future Fellow - GL
Affiliate Senior Research Fellow
Overview
Dr Melanie White heads the Dynamics of Morphogenesis Lab at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB), University of Queensland and is an ARC Future Fellow. She completed a PhD in Neuroscience at University College London followed by postdoctoral research at The University of Edinburgh. During this time Mel engineered viruses to modulate gene expression in the brain to investigate neuronal function and as a therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative disease. Her work was published in Neuron and PNAS, featured in Nature Reviews Neuroscience and received extensive international media coverage (including the BBC and The Guardian).
In 2012 Mel switched fields to apply quantitative imaging in developmental biology. Her work revealed key mechanisms driving the earliest morphogenetic events in mammalian embryogenesis and was published in Cell, Science, Nature Cell Biology, Developmental Cell and Nature Protocols. Her research was featured on the cover of multiple journals including Cell and she was awarded the inaugural American Society for Cell Biology Porter Prize for Research Excellence (2018).
In 2020, Mel joined the IMB where she will combine her passion for neuroscience and developmental biology to investigate the dynamics of neural tube morphogenesis.
Research overview
The brain and the spinal cord control most of the functions of the body and the mind, yet the dynamics of how they first form is poorly understood. Both structures arise from a common precursor, the neural tube, which forms very early in embryonic development. To generate the forces that sculpt and shape the neural tube, changes in cellular architecture must be tightly coordinated in space and time. These morphological rearrangements occur concurrently with biochemical signalling pathways that specify early neural cell fates.
Our research aims to understand how cellular properties and transcriptional regulators interact with mechanical forces in real time to direct vertebrate neural tube formation and neural cell fate specification. We study the dynamics of neural tube formation by applying advanced imaging technologies in transgenic avian models and human stem cell models.
Research Impacts
Incorrect formation of the neural tube leads to severe congenital malformations called neural tube defects (NTDs). These are amongst the most common birth defects affecting approximately 300,000 babies worldwide every year. Despite their prevalence, mechanisms causing NTDs in humans remain largely unknown. Our research aims to understand the molecular, cellular and mechanical processes directing neural tube formation. This knowledge is essential for determining the specific causes of NTDs and may provide potential avenues for diagnostic testing and future therapeutic treatments.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of London
Publications
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Journal Article: Mechanical forces in avian embryo development
Wang, Jian Xiong and White, Melanie D. (2021). Mechanical forces in avian embryo development. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology, 120, 133-146. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.06.001
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Journal Article: Specification of the first mammalian cell lineages in vivo and in vitro
White, Melanie D. and Plachta, Nicolas (2020). Specification of the first mammalian cell lineages in vivo and in vitro. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology, 12 (4) a035634, a035634. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a035634
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Journal Article: Instructions for assembling the early mammalian embryo
White, Melanie D., Zenker, Jennifer, Bissiere, Stephanie and Plachta, Nicolas (2018). Instructions for assembling the early mammalian embryo. Developmental Cell, 45 (6), 667-679. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2018.05.013
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Journal Article: Expanding actin rings zipper the mouse embryo for blastocyst formation
Zenker, Jennifer, White, Melanie D., Gasnier, Maxime, Alvarez, Yanina D., Lim, Hui Yi Grace, Bissiere, Stephanie, Biro, Maté and Plachta, Nicolas (2018). Expanding actin rings zipper the mouse embryo for blastocyst formation. Cell, 173 (3), 776-791.e17. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.02.035
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Journal Article: In vivo imaging of single mammalian cells in development and disease
White, Melanie D., Zhao, Ziqing W. and Plachta, Nicolas (2018). In vivo imaging of single mammalian cells in development and disease. Trends in molecular medicine, 24 (3), 278-293. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2018.01.003
-
Journal Article: A microtubule-organizing center directing intracellular transport in the early mouse embryo
Zenker, J., White, M. D., Templin, R. M., Parton, R. G., Thorn-Seshold, O., Bissiere, S. and Plachta, N. (2017). A microtubule-organizing center directing intracellular transport in the early mouse embryo. Science, 357 (6354), 925-928. doi: 10.1126/science.aam9335
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Journal Article: Long-lived binding of Sox2 to DNA predicts cell fate in the four-cell mouse embryo
White, Melanie D., Angiolini, Juan F., Alvarez, Yanina D., Kaur, Gurpreet, Zhao, Ziqing W., Mocskos, Esteban, Bruno, Luciana, Bissiere, Stephanie, Levi, Valeria and Plachta, Nicolas (2016). Long-lived binding of Sox2 to DNA predicts cell fate in the four-cell mouse embryo. Cell, 165 (1), 75-87. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.02.032
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Journal Article: Cortical tension allocates the first inner cells of the mammalian embryo
Samarage, Chaminda R., White, Melanie D., Álvarez, Yanina D., Fierro-González, Juan Carlos, Henon, Yann, Jesudason, Edwin C., Bissiere, Stephanie, Fouras, Andreas and Plachta, Nicolas (2015). Cortical tension allocates the first inner cells of the mammalian embryo. Developmental Cell, 34 (4) 3367, 435-47. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2015.07.004
Grants
-
Microenvironmental regulation of melanoma brain metastasis
(2022–2025) United States Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs - Melanoma Research Program
-
Revealing the mechanobiology of neural tube formation
(2022–2025) ARC Discovery Projects
-
Revealing how junctional neural tube defects arise
(2022–2024) NHMRC IDEAS Grants
Supervision
-
Revealing the mechanobiology of neural tube formation
Doctor Philosophy
-
Revealing how the neural tube forms in real time
Doctor Philosophy
-
How the interaction between blood flow forces and ECM controls vessel assembly and function during development
Doctor Philosophy
Available Projects
-
How remodelling of actomyosin networks drives neural tube formation in the living embryo.
The brain and the spinal cord control most of the functions of the body and the mind, yet the dynamics of how they first form is poorly understood. Both structures arise from a common precursor, the neural tube, which forms very early in embryonic development. Changes in cellular architecture must be tightly coordinated in space and time to generate the forces that sculpt and shape the neural tube. These morphogenetic forces are dependent on the correct regulation of the actin cytoskeleton and many actin-related proteins have been associated with neural tube defects. This PhD project will use quantitative live imaging of developing avian embryos to understand how actin networks are remodelled at the subcellular level to shape the neural tube and which are the key molecules controlling this process.
Expressions of interest from prospective postgraduate students are welcome. For information on available research higher degree projects, please email melanie.white@imb.uq.edu.au with the following: (1) CV, including a summary of academic qualifications, work and research experience, and publication list; (2) studies report or academic transcript for undergraduate and honours degree(s); and (3) a letter outlining your research interests and career aspirations.
-
How do tissue-scale forces direct neural tube formation in the living embryo.
Most tissues and organs are built using a toolbox of common changes in cellular properties such as polarity, adhesion, migration and division, combined with alterations in mechanical forces at the cellular and tissue scales. Not only do cellular properties drive mechanical events within tissues, but mechanical forces also feedback to alter gene expression, signalling pathways and cellular behaviours. These reciprocal interactions are integral to development. This PhD project will utilise high-resolution long-term imaging to link events at the cellular scale to tissue scale forces during neural tube formation in developing avian embryos. Use of tissue tectonics analyses and quantification of cellular behaviours will reveal how different cellular events contribute to morphogenesis of the neural tube. Combining spatiotemporal manipulation of force generation with live cell tracking will demonstrate how the regulation of mechanical forces affects subsequent cell fate and neural tube morphogenesis.
Expressions of interest from prospective postgraduate students are welcome. For information on available research higher degree projects, please email melanie.white@imb.uq.edu.au with the following: (1) CV, including a summary of academic qualifications, work and research experience, and publication list; (2) studies report or academic transcript for undergraduate and honours degree(s); and (3) a letter outlining your research interests and career aspirations.
Publications
Featured Publications
-
Mechanical forces in avian embryo development
Wang, Jian Xiong and White, Melanie D. (2021). Mechanical forces in avian embryo development. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology, 120, 133-146. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.06.001
-
Specification of the first mammalian cell lineages in vivo and in vitro
White, Melanie D. and Plachta, Nicolas (2020). Specification of the first mammalian cell lineages in vivo and in vitro. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology, 12 (4) a035634, a035634. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a035634
-
Instructions for assembling the early mammalian embryo
White, Melanie D., Zenker, Jennifer, Bissiere, Stephanie and Plachta, Nicolas (2018). Instructions for assembling the early mammalian embryo. Developmental Cell, 45 (6), 667-679. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2018.05.013
-
Expanding actin rings zipper the mouse embryo for blastocyst formation
Zenker, Jennifer, White, Melanie D., Gasnier, Maxime, Alvarez, Yanina D., Lim, Hui Yi Grace, Bissiere, Stephanie, Biro, Maté and Plachta, Nicolas (2018). Expanding actin rings zipper the mouse embryo for blastocyst formation. Cell, 173 (3), 776-791.e17. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.02.035
-
In vivo imaging of single mammalian cells in development and disease
White, Melanie D., Zhao, Ziqing W. and Plachta, Nicolas (2018). In vivo imaging of single mammalian cells in development and disease. Trends in molecular medicine, 24 (3), 278-293. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2018.01.003
-
A microtubule-organizing center directing intracellular transport in the early mouse embryo
Zenker, J., White, M. D., Templin, R. M., Parton, R. G., Thorn-Seshold, O., Bissiere, S. and Plachta, N. (2017). A microtubule-organizing center directing intracellular transport in the early mouse embryo. Science, 357 (6354), 925-928. doi: 10.1126/science.aam9335
-
Long-lived binding of Sox2 to DNA predicts cell fate in the four-cell mouse embryo
White, Melanie D., Angiolini, Juan F., Alvarez, Yanina D., Kaur, Gurpreet, Zhao, Ziqing W., Mocskos, Esteban, Bruno, Luciana, Bissiere, Stephanie, Levi, Valeria and Plachta, Nicolas (2016). Long-lived binding of Sox2 to DNA predicts cell fate in the four-cell mouse embryo. Cell, 165 (1), 75-87. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.02.032
-
Cortical tension allocates the first inner cells of the mammalian embryo
Samarage, Chaminda R., White, Melanie D., Álvarez, Yanina D., Fierro-González, Juan Carlos, Henon, Yann, Jesudason, Edwin C., Bissiere, Stephanie, Fouras, Andreas and Plachta, Nicolas (2015). Cortical tension allocates the first inner cells of the mammalian embryo. Developmental Cell, 34 (4) 3367, 435-47. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2015.07.004
Book Chapter
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White, M. D., Bissiere, S., Alvarez, Y. D. and Plachta, N. (2016). Mouse embryo compaction. Mammalian preimplantation development. (pp. 235-58) edited by Melvin L. DePamphilis. Maryland Heights, MO, United States: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2016.04.005
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How adhesion forms the early mammalian embryo
White, Melanie D. and Plachta, Nicolas (2015). How adhesion forms the early mammalian embryo. Cellular adhesion in development and disease. (pp. 1-17) edited by Alpha S. Yap. Maryland Heights, MO, United States: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2014.11.022
Journal Article
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Sun, Yuliangzi, Shim, Woo Jun, Shen, Sophie, Sinniah, Enakshi, Pham, Duy, Su, Zezhuo, Mizikovsky, Dalia, White, Melanie D., Ho, Joshua W. K., Nguyen, Quan, Bodén, Mikael and Palpant, Nathan J (2023). Inferring cell diversity in single cell data using consortium-scale epigenetic data as a biological anchor for cell identity. Nucleic Acids Research, 51 (11), e62-e62. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkad307
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The cellular dynamics of neural tube formation
van der Spuy, Marise, Wang, Jian Xiong, Kociszewska, Dagmara and White, Melanie D. (2023). The cellular dynamics of neural tube formation. Biochemical Society Transactions, 51 (1), 343-352. doi: 10.1042/bst20220871
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Mechanical forces in avian embryo development
Wang, Jian Xiong and White, Melanie D. (2021). Mechanical forces in avian embryo development. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology, 120, 133-146. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.06.001
-
Specification of the first mammalian cell lineages in vivo and in vitro
White, Melanie D. and Plachta, Nicolas (2020). Specification of the first mammalian cell lineages in vivo and in vitro. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology, 12 (4) a035634, a035634. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a035634
-
Instructions for assembling the early mammalian embryo
White, Melanie D., Zenker, Jennifer, Bissiere, Stephanie and Plachta, Nicolas (2018). Instructions for assembling the early mammalian embryo. Developmental Cell, 45 (6), 667-679. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2018.05.013
-
Expanding actin rings zipper the mouse embryo for blastocyst formation
Zenker, Jennifer, White, Melanie D., Gasnier, Maxime, Alvarez, Yanina D., Lim, Hui Yi Grace, Bissiere, Stephanie, Biro, Maté and Plachta, Nicolas (2018). Expanding actin rings zipper the mouse embryo for blastocyst formation. Cell, 173 (3), 776-791.e17. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.02.035
-
In vivo imaging of single mammalian cells in development and disease
White, Melanie D., Zhao, Ziqing W. and Plachta, Nicolas (2018). In vivo imaging of single mammalian cells in development and disease. Trends in molecular medicine, 24 (3), 278-293. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2018.01.003
-
A microtubule-organizing center directing intracellular transport in the early mouse embryo
Zenker, J., White, M. D., Templin, R. M., Parton, R. G., Thorn-Seshold, O., Bissiere, S. and Plachta, N. (2017). A microtubule-organizing center directing intracellular transport in the early mouse embryo. Science, 357 (6354), 925-928. doi: 10.1126/science.aam9335
-
Zhao, Ziqing Winston, White, Melanie D., Alvarez, Yanina D., Zenker, Jennifer, Bissiere, Stephanie and Plachta, Nicolas (2017). Quantifying transcription factor-DNA binding in single cells in vivo with photoactivatable fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. Nature Protocols, 12 (7), 1458-1471. doi: 10.1038/nprot.2017.051
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How cells change shape and position in the early mammalian embryo
White, Melanie D., Zenker, Jennifer, Bissiere, Stephanie and Plachta, Nicolas (2017). How cells change shape and position in the early mammalian embryo. Current Opinion in Cell Biology, 44, 7-13. doi: 10.1016/j.ceb.2016.11.002
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Quantitative imaging of mammalian transcriptional dynamics: from single cells to whole embryos
Zhao, Ziqing W., White, Melanie D., Bissiere, Stephanie, Levi, Valeria and Plachta, Nicolas (2016). Quantitative imaging of mammalian transcriptional dynamics: from single cells to whole embryos. BMC Biology, 14 (1) 115, 115. doi: 10.1186/s12915-016-0331-9
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Long-lived binding of Sox2 to DNA predicts cell fate in the four-cell mouse embryo
White, Melanie D., Angiolini, Juan F., Alvarez, Yanina D., Kaur, Gurpreet, Zhao, Ziqing W., Mocskos, Esteban, Bruno, Luciana, Bissiere, Stephanie, Levi, Valeria and Plachta, Nicolas (2016). Long-lived binding of Sox2 to DNA predicts cell fate in the four-cell mouse embryo. Cell, 165 (1), 75-87. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.02.032
-
Cortical tension allocates the first inner cells of the mammalian embryo
Samarage, Chaminda R., White, Melanie D., Álvarez, Yanina D., Fierro-González, Juan Carlos, Henon, Yann, Jesudason, Edwin C., Bissiere, Stephanie, Fouras, Andreas and Plachta, Nicolas (2015). Cortical tension allocates the first inner cells of the mammalian embryo. Developmental Cell, 34 (4) 3367, 435-47. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2015.07.004
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Cadherin-dependent filopodia control preimplantation embryo compaction
Fierro-González, Juan Carlos, White, Melanie D., Silva, Juan Carlos and Plachta, Nicolas (2013). Cadherin-dependent filopodia control preimplantation embryo compaction. Nature Cell Biology, 15 (12), 1424-33. doi: 10.1038/ncb2875
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Pastoll, Hugh, White, Melanie and Nolan, Matthew (2012). Preparation of parasagittal slices for the investigation of dorsal-ventral organization of the rodent medial entorhinal cortex. Journal of Visualized Experiments (61). doi: 10.3791/3802
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White, Melanie D., Milne, Ruth V. J. and Nolan, Matthew F. (2011). A molecular toolbox for rapid generation of viral vectors to up- or down-regulate neuronal gene expression in vivo. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 4, 1-15. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2011.00008
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RNAi for the treatment of prion disease: a window for intervention in neurodegeneration?
White, Melanie D. and Mallucci, Giovanna R. (2009). RNAi for the treatment of prion disease: a window for intervention in neurodegeneration?. CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets, 8 (5), 342-352. doi: 10.2174/187152709789541934
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Therapy for prion diseases: insights from the use of RNA interference
White, Melanie D. and Mallucci, Giovanna R. (2009). Therapy for prion diseases: insights from the use of RNA interference. Prion, 3 (3), 121-8. doi: 10.4161/pri.3.3.9289
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Garden, Derek L. F., Dodson, Paul D., O'Donnell, Cian, White, Melanie D. and Nolan, Matthew F. (2008). Tuning of synaptic integration in the medial entorhinal cortex to the organization of grid cell firing fields. Neuron, 60 (5), 875-89. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2008.10.044
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White, Melanie D., Farmer, Michael, Mirabile, Ilaria, Brandner, Sebastian, Collinge, John and Mallucci, Giovanna R. (2008). Single treatment with RNAi against prion protein rescues early neuronal dysfunction and prolongs survival in mice with prion disease. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 105 (29), 10238-10243. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0802759105
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Mallucci, Giovanna R., White, Melanie D., Farmer, Michael, Dickinson, Andrew, Khatun, Husna, Powell, Andrew D., Brandner, Sebastian, Jefferys, John G. R. and Collinge, John (2007). Targeting cellular prion protein reverses early cognitive deficits and neurophysiological dysfunction in prion-infected mice. Neuron, 53 (3), 325-35. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2007.01.005
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Zhang, Youming, Leaves, Nicholas I, Anderson, Gavin G., Ponting, Chris P., Broxholme, John, Holt, Richard, Edser, Pauline, Bhattacharyya, Sumit, Dunham, Andy, Adcock, Ian M., Pulleyn, Louise, Barnes, Peter J., Harper, John I., Abecasis, Gonçalo, Cardon, Lon, White, Melanie, Burton, John, Matthews, Lucy, Mott, Richard, Ross, Mark, Cox, Roger, Moffatt, Miriam F. and Cookson, William O. C. M. (2003). Positional cloning of a quantitative trait locus on chromosome 13q14 that influences immunoglobulin E levels and asthma. Nature Genetics, 34 (2), 181-6. doi: 10.1038/ng1166
Conference Publication
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A Microtubule Organizing Center Directing Intracellular Transport in the Early Mouse Embryo
Zenker, J., White, M. D., Templin, R. M., Parton, R. G., Thorn-Seshold, O., Bissiere, S. and Plachta, N. (2017). A Microtubule Organizing Center Directing Intracellular Transport in the Early Mouse Embryo. ASCB/EMBO Meeting, Philadelphia Pa United States, 2-6 December 2017. Bethesda, MD United States: American Society for Cell Biology.
Grants (Administered at UQ)
-
Microenvironmental regulation of melanoma brain metastasis
(2022–2025) United States Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs - Melanoma Research Program
-
Revealing the mechanobiology of neural tube formation
(2022–2025) ARC Discovery Projects
-
Revealing how junctional neural tube defects arise
(2022–2024) NHMRC IDEAS Grants
-
Imaging the foundation of the nervous system
(2021–2024) ARC Future Fellowships
PhD and MPhil Supervision
Current Supervision
-
Revealing the mechanobiology of neural tube formation
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
-
Revealing how the neural tube forms in real time
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
-
How the interaction between blood flow forces and ECM controls vessel assembly and function during development
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
-
Revealing how the junctional neural tube forms
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
-
THE ROLE OF EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX AND FOCAL ADHESION DYNAMICS IN STEM CELL COMMITMENT
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Possible Research Projects
Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.
-
How remodelling of actomyosin networks drives neural tube formation in the living embryo.
The brain and the spinal cord control most of the functions of the body and the mind, yet the dynamics of how they first form is poorly understood. Both structures arise from a common precursor, the neural tube, which forms very early in embryonic development. Changes in cellular architecture must be tightly coordinated in space and time to generate the forces that sculpt and shape the neural tube. These morphogenetic forces are dependent on the correct regulation of the actin cytoskeleton and many actin-related proteins have been associated with neural tube defects. This PhD project will use quantitative live imaging of developing avian embryos to understand how actin networks are remodelled at the subcellular level to shape the neural tube and which are the key molecules controlling this process.
Expressions of interest from prospective postgraduate students are welcome. For information on available research higher degree projects, please email melanie.white@imb.uq.edu.au with the following: (1) CV, including a summary of academic qualifications, work and research experience, and publication list; (2) studies report or academic transcript for undergraduate and honours degree(s); and (3) a letter outlining your research interests and career aspirations.
-
How do tissue-scale forces direct neural tube formation in the living embryo.
Most tissues and organs are built using a toolbox of common changes in cellular properties such as polarity, adhesion, migration and division, combined with alterations in mechanical forces at the cellular and tissue scales. Not only do cellular properties drive mechanical events within tissues, but mechanical forces also feedback to alter gene expression, signalling pathways and cellular behaviours. These reciprocal interactions are integral to development. This PhD project will utilise high-resolution long-term imaging to link events at the cellular scale to tissue scale forces during neural tube formation in developing avian embryos. Use of tissue tectonics analyses and quantification of cellular behaviours will reveal how different cellular events contribute to morphogenesis of the neural tube. Combining spatiotemporal manipulation of force generation with live cell tracking will demonstrate how the regulation of mechanical forces affects subsequent cell fate and neural tube morphogenesis.
Expressions of interest from prospective postgraduate students are welcome. For information on available research higher degree projects, please email melanie.white@imb.uq.edu.au with the following: (1) CV, including a summary of academic qualifications, work and research experience, and publication list; (2) studies report or academic transcript for undergraduate and honours degree(s); and (3) a letter outlining your research interests and career aspirations.
