Faculty

Return to Faculty List

Ajay Gopinathan Title Assistant Professor School of Natural Sciences Email agopinathan@ucmerced.edu Office Phone (209) 228-4048 Website http://faculty1.ucmerced.edu/agopinathan/ Address University of California, Merced School of Natural Sciences 5200 North Lake Rd. Merced, CA 95343

Professor Gopinathan's research focuses biophysics, soft-condensed matter and the interface between the two fields. Applying ideas and techniques from physics to biology results in exciting research that delves into the machinery of life and advances physics.

His main interest lies in understanding the inter-relationship between non-equilibrium nature, structure, mechanical properties and function in biological systems. Current research involves using methods from soft-condensed matter physics (statistical mechanics, polymer physics and elasticity) to address various issues such as:

• Different aspects of cell motility including force generation and membrane dynamics
• Protein translocation across membrane pores
• Kinetic control of the cytoskeletal network
• Structure and function of biopolymer aggregates and the diffusion of macromolecules in crowded, sticky environments

Research is conducted using a combination of analytical and computational techniques, often in collaboration with experimental groups. Other interests include colloidal dynamics, self-organization in polymeric systems and statistical mechanics of biological and artificial networks.

• Ph.D., 2003 — University of Chicago
• M.S., 1998 — Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur