Biography

Laralynne Przybyla, Ph.D.did her undergraduate studies at Purdue University, acquiring degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology. She next obtained a PhD from MIT in the lab of Dr. Joel Voldman, where she studied the role of the microenvironment on the maintenance of mouse embryonic stem cell self-renewal using microfluidic perfusion and micropatterning to control extracellular signals.
Dr. Przybyla joined Dr. Weaver's lab in 2012 where she studies the mechanisms by which cell-cell forces and mechanical signals control early embryonic development, primarily using human embryonic stem cells. Using a combination of substrate stiffness modifications, traction force microscopy, and various molecular and biochemical techniques, she hopes to identify mechanisms involved in controlling cell movements during the lineage diversion that occurs at the onset of gastrulation and primitive streak formation.