Research interests

We work on problems in quantitative biology, non-equilibrium dynamics, and theoretical computer science.  

A frequent theme in our work is realizing neuro-inspired `intelligent' functions (like pattern recognition, statistical inference and learning) through the collective dynamics of physical and biological systems. 

Current work includes:
1. Inference and anticipation of the environmental state by organisms
2. Decoding information in time-varying signals using non-equilibrium dynamics 
     (in gene regulation with the Tay lab, in circadian clocks with the Rust lab, in neural networks, )
3. Disordered non-linear mechanics, origami and problems of control.


Openings: If you are interested in working on such themes as a postdoc, graduate student or undergrad, contact  amurugan@uchicago.edu. 

Recent publications

News

Self-folding origami at any energy scale
 with: M. Pinson*, M. Stern*, Ferrero, Witten, Chen
Nature Communications 8:15477 (May 2017) 

 The difficulty of folding self-folding origami
 with: M. Stern, M. Pinson
arXiv (Mar 2017) 

 Associative pattern recognition through macro-molecular self-assembly
 with: W. Zhong, D.J. Schwab
arXiv (Jan 2017)  (Journal of Statistical Physics, Kadanoff memorial issue)

Topologically protected modes in non-equilibrium stochastic systems
with: S. Vaikuntanathan
Nature Communications (Jan 2017) 

The Information Capacity of Specific Interactions
 with: M. Huntley, M. Brenner
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (May 2016)

Receptor arrays optimized for natural odor statistics,
with: D. Zwicker, M. Brenner
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (Apr 2016)

Biological implications of dynamical phases in non-equilibrium reaction networks,
with: S. Vaikuntanathan
invited contribution, Journal of Statistical Physics (2016, 162 (5))
 
Undesired usage and the robust self-assembly of heterogeneous structures,   
with: J. Zou, and M. Brenner 
Nature Communications 6, 6203 (Jan 2015) 

Multifarious Assembly Mixtures: Systems Allowing Retrieval of Diverse Stored Structures,           
with: Z. Zeravcic, S. Leibler and M. Brenner 
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 112(1) 54-59 (Dec 2014)                                              

                                                                                   

4/24/2017: Lenka Zdeborova (CEA/Saclay) visits.

3/24/2017: Menachem's origami paper accepted at Nature Communications.

3/16/2017: Weishun's paper on pattern recognition published in J. Stat. Phys.

3/6/2017: Menachem, Weishun present work at APS March meeting.

1/11/2017: Weishun's poster (with David Schwab, NU) accepted at COSYNE'17.

9/15/2016: Alan Selewa joins.

6/14/2016: Alexandra Carruthers arrives.

5/28/2016 : Weerapat Pittayakanchit arrives.

5/26/2016 : Weishun Zhong arrives.

5/19/2016 : Workshop on Aging and Failure in biology @ Harvard

4/14/2016 : FNANO 16 (Foundations of Nanoscience), Snowbird, UT

3/15/2016 : UIUC Condensed Matter Symposium.

2/19/2016 : Ryan Thiermann joins.

2/16/2016: Menachem Stern joins.

~ 2/9/2016 : Sheets 2016 workshop at KITP, Santa Barbara.