Jonathan Martinez, PhD Student
Office: RRI 403M
Email:
Research Interests
I am interested in how cells make fate decisions and how these decisions are influenced by gene regulatory networks. Using mathematical modeling and single-cell sequencing data, I study how network structure and transcription factor dynamics can lead to multiple stable cell states, and how intrinsic noise and environmental signals shape these outcomes. My interests lie at the intersection of dynamical systems, statistical analysis, and single-cell biology.
How I Got Into Science
I have always loved both math and biology, but for a long time I didn’t know how to connect the two. Early in my undergraduate studies, I joined a public-data analysis group working with TCGA datasets, which opened my eyes to how biological questions could be approached through quantitative methods. Not long after, I joined a systems biology lab, where I worked with single-cell data to help develop a method for constructing gene regulatory networks using statistical approaches. This experience showed me how mathematics and biology could come together to address complex questions, and solidified my passion for quantitative biology.
Fast Facts
Favorite activity outside of work: Playing Sports (Volleyball, Basketball) and Games (both Card and Video Games)
Favorite book: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k
What undergraduate major I’d pick outside of STEM: East Asian Languages and Cultures