The Sprinzak Lab

Research Interests

The development of a multicellular organism is a truly fantastic process. How genetically identical cells differentiate into distinct cell types in a precise and reproducible manner remains one of the most important questions in biology. The long term goal of the lab is to elucidate how the interplay between cell-cell signaling and cell mechanics gives rise to complex, yet precise, developmental patterns. In particular, we focus on developmental processes that require coordination between neighboring cells, such as patterning of hair cells in the inner ear. We combine quantitative live imaging of cells and tissues with mathematical modeling to address these questions.