MCDB laboratories explore the properties that emerge from the organization and dynamics of complex biological systems through a combination of experimental approaches and theoretical modeling. Among the areas of research being actively investigated at the systems level are the nature and action of neuronal networks controlling animal behavior, gene regulatory networks that direct differentiation and cellular plasticity, concerted movements of cells in morphogenesis, mechanisms of bacterial interactions, cellular stress responses, and host-pathogen interactions. UCSB provides a unique interdisciplinary research environment for systems biology that promotes collaborations between the life, physical, and computational sciences. These include strong collaborations with faculty in the Departments of Physics, Mechanical and Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics.
