Research interestsWe work on problems in quantitative biology, non-equilibrium dynamics, and theoretical computer science.
A frequent theme in our work is how the collective dynamics of physical and biological systems can generalize past experiences (i.e., learn) and create internal models of the external world. This ability is critical to understanding biology in changing environments and to engineer neuro-inspired functions in matter. 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. Storing and retrieving memories in non-linear mechanical systems. Openings: If you are interested in working on such themes as a postdoc, graduate student or undergrad, contact amurugan@uchicago.edu. |
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Recent publications
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News
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Biophysical clocks face a trade-off between internal and external noise resistance
with: W. Pittayakanchit, Z. Lu, J. Chew, M. Rust eLife (June 2018) Shaping dynamical pathways in mechanical systems with: M. Stern, V. Jayaram arXiv (May 2018) The difficulty of folding self-folding origami with: M. Stern, M. Pinson Physical Review X, arXiv link (2017) Self-folding origami at any energy scale with: M. Pinson*, M. Stern*, A Ferrero, T.Witten, E. Chen Nature Communications 8:15477 (2017) Associative pattern recognition through macro-molecular self-assembly with: W. Zhong, D.J. Schwab Journal of Statistical Physics, Volume 167, Issue 3–4, May 2017 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) |
06/23/2018: Wee's and Zhiyue's paper on clocks accepted at eLife. 04/04/2018: Kabir Husain joins the group. 11/20/2017: Menachem's paper on NP-hardness and folding accepted at PRX. 7/24/2017: Talk on Wee's circadian work + poster on Jackson's work at QBio 2017 Summer schools 2017: Wee and Jackson attend the Cargese biophysics school, Jackson goes to UIUC's biophysics school, Menachem at the Boulder summer school. 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. |