My project will define a new design principle of biological circuits. Some circuits, found across organisms, use components that carry out two opposing functions at the same time. Theory done in my lab suggests that such bifunctional enzymes are the key to making biological circuits robust: able to work precisely despite natural variations in their components.

My project will benefit from a student with a physics background who is able to collect biological data, and develop and solve mathematical models of biological circuits. Such work requires frequent discussion with a creative and skilled partner. The research partner will help find the detailed biochemical information needed for this project, and cocreate the desired theory and analysis.