Regular biography
Tatyana Svitkina is a Professor of Biology at the University of Pennsylvania, Department of Biology. Her research focuses on cell and developmental biology, specifically investigating how cells move and the molecular mechanisms underlying cell motility. Her work explores the structural organization of the cytoskeleton, including actin filaments, microtubules, and intermediate filaments, and how these components contribute to cellular movement. Using techniques such as platinum replica electron microscopy and correlative light and electron microscopy, she examines the dynamic interactions within the cytoskeleton to understand the functional connections between cytoskeletal dynamics and supramolecular organization. Her research also investigates the mechanisms of leading edge protrusion, particularly the role of actin polymerization in forming structures like lamellipodia and filopodia.