Project Description
This project is part of larger studies that aim to understand soft tissue injury susceptibility.Ìý In these studies, we quantify the differences in injury mechanics of knee ligaments from multiple mouse model comparisons, including genetically-modified mice and treadmill exercised mice vs. caged controls.Ìý These differences in mechanical function result from changes in tissue microstructure, or extracellular matrix – the collection of proteins and other macromolecules that give tissues their mechanical integrity.Ìý Thus, we also want to quantify changes in extracellular matrix composition and organization to understand the roles of particular extracellular matrix components and their organization in injury risk.Ìý For this project, the student will further develop a protocol to fluorescently label particular proteins in soft tissues, produce high-resolution 3D confocal images of tissue microstructure, and quantify features like fiber diameter, orientation distribution, and density using image processing in MATLAB.Ìý Results have the potential to be published as part of multiple studies.
Special Requirements
- Proficiency in MATLAB programming is required – image processing experience is a plus
- Experience with dissections, immunohistochemistry, and/or protein assays are helpful, but not required
Contact
- Sarah Calve (faculty)
- °ä²¹±ô±ô²¹²ÔÌý³¢³Ü±ð³Ù°ì±ð³¾±ð²â±ð°ù (post-doc)