Michael L. Zhao

This paper introduces a geometric method to quantify individual cellular processes' contributions to multi-cellular pattern formation using synthetic and experimental data.

The paper identifies cell aggregation as a key factor limiting the scaling of patterns in cell collectives and shows how system size affects pattern formation timing.

The paper identifies non-reciprocal synchronization rules in embryonic oscillator ensembles using a novel experimental assay and develops a new coupling model called Rectified Kuramoto.

The paper identifies a dynamic HIF1alpha-PPARgamma circuit that both promotes and represses lipid accumulation during adipogenesis, revealing a mechanism for adipocyte dysfunction in obesity.

The paper investigates the phenotypic consequences of RPS25 and RACK1 loss in human cells, finding that RPS25 knockout leads to irreversible resistance traits and gene expression rewiring.

The paper measures protein expression variability in Xenopus laevis and human cells, showing lower variation than expected and demonstrating how covariation between MEK and ERK improves population-level control of binary cell-fate decisions.