Our laboratory investigates how animal bodies are built, maintained, and reshaped. We focus particularly on epithelial tissues which are the sheets of cells that cover the body and line its organs. We seek to understand how cell adhesion, the cytoskeleton, and mechanical forces interact to generate the diverse three-dimensional architectures that enable tissues to function. By combining Drosophila genetics, mammalian cell culture, advanced light microscopy, quantitative image analysis, and computational modeling, we examine how epithelial architecture emerges during maturation and changes in response to injury and mechanical stress. Our goal is to uncover predictive principles linking molecular and mechanical processes to tissue structure, providing a foundation for understanding how tissue organization fails in disease and for engineering tissues with defined forms and functions.

In my role as Director of the Advanced Light Microscopy Core at the University of Missouri, I lead a multidisciplinary imaging program that supports research across the life sciences and beyond. I collaborate with investigators to develop imaging strategies, design experiments, and apply quantitative image analysis to diverse scientific questions. I also train and mentor researchers, evaluate emerging microscopy technologies, and guide the development of shared imaging resources to meet evolving research needs. Through these activities, I help shape scientific capabilities at Mizzou and broaden access to advanced microscopy.