Personnel
Personal | Education | Projects | Research | Publications | Presentations
Kathy Puskar
Postdoctoral Research Associate
E-mail: kmp74@pitt.edu
Tel: 412-648-9294
Fax: 412-648-8548
Office: BSTWR E1648; 210 Lothrop St.

Education
  • Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mechanical Engineering, 2006
  • M.S., Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, Mechanical Engineering, 1991
  • B.S., University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mechanical Engineering, 1989

Current Projects
  1. Measuring cellular traction forces through thin film wrinkle patterns
  2. Modeling fibroblast populated collagen gels

Research Interests
Dr. Puskar’s research interests lie in developing theoretical models and computational simulations to elucidate how low-level physical interactions evolve into high-level system properties. Her mechanical engineering background and industrial experience in modeling mechanical systems offers a unique perspective on biological systems. She is currently investigating the use of multi scale techniques, with an emphasis on the influence of spatial constraints, and complimentary experiments, to answer fundamental questions of how tissue is affected by the local environment and how this influences the biochemical processes.
Selected Publications
  • K. Puskar, A. Parisi-Amon, S. Ta'asan, R. Schwartz, P. R. LeDuc, “Modeling Molecular Interactions to Understand Spatial Crowding Effects on Heterodimer Formations”, Physical Review E 76, pp 041904 (2007).

  • T. Liu, T. Papagiannakopoulos, K. Puskar, S. Qi, F. Santiago, W. Clay, K. Lao, Y. Lee, S.F. Nelson, H.I. Kornblum, F. Doyle, L. Petzold, B. Shraiman, K.S. Kosik , “Detection of a microRNA Signal in an In Vivo Expression Set of mRNAs”, PLoS One (29 August 2007).

  • K. Puskar, S. Ta'asan, R. Schwartz, P. R. LeDuc (2006), "Evaluating Spatial Constraints in Cellular Assembly Processes Using a Monte Carlo Approach”, Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics, Vol. 45 (2), pp. 195-201.

  • K. Puskar, L. Apeltsin, S. Ta'asan, R. Schwartz, P. R. LeDuc (2004), "Understanding Actin Organization in Cell Structure through Lattice Based Monte Carlo Simulations", Mechanics and Chemistry of Biosystems, Vol. 1 (2), pp. 123-132.


Selected Presentations
  • K. Puskar, H.T. Lin, F. Li, B. Li, J. H-C Wang (2008) “A New approach to Determine Traction Forces of Micropatterned Cells”, Society for the Physical Regulation of Biology and Medicine Annual Conference.

  • K. Puskar (2007) “Monte Carlo Method for Modeling Biological Systems” Civil and Environmental Engineering Graduate Seminar, University of Pittsburgh.

  • K. Puskar (2007) “Searching for miRNA Targets” Systems Biology Graduate Seminar, University of California Santa Barbara.

  • K. Puskar, A. Parisi-Amon, S. Ta'asan, R. Schwartz, P. R. LeDuc, (Winter 2005), “ Modeling Molecular Interactions to Understand Spatial Crowding Effects in Heterodimer Formation”, American Society for Cell Biology Annual Meeting.

  • K. Puskar, A. Parisi-Amon, S. Ta'asan, R. Schwartz, P. R. LeDuc, (Fall 2005), “The Effect of Crowding on Heterodimer Formation using a Molecular Monte Carlo Simulation”, Biomedical Engineering Society Conference.

  • K. Puskar, (2005), “Understanding Cell Structure using Computational Approaches”, Bennett Conference, Carnegie Mellon University.

  • L. Apeltsin, K. Puskar, P. R. LeDuc, R. Schwartz, (2005) , “Understanding Molecular Crowding Effects on Linear Cytoskeleton Assembly with Reduced Models” Biophysical Society Annual Meeting.

  • K. Puskar, L. Apeltsin, S. Ta'asan, R. Schwartz, P. R. LeDuc, (2004) “Lattice Based Biological Simulation of Molecular Assembly in Cells.” American Society for Cell Biology Annual Meeting.

  • L. Apeltsin, K. Puskar, P. R. LeDuc, R. Schwartz, (2004) “Understanding Molecular Crowding Effects on Linear Cytoskeleton Assembly with Reduced Models.” American Society for Cell Biology Annual Meeting.

  • K. Puskar, L. Apeltsin, S. Ta'asan, R. Schwartz, P. R. LeDuc, (2004) “Bridging Mechanical Stimulation of Cellular and Molecular Structure through Lattice Based Computational Simulations.” ASME International Mechanical and Engineering Congress and Exposition.

  • K. Puskar, L. Apeltsin, S. Ta'asan, R. Schwartz, P. R. LeDuc (2004), "Exploring Inert Particle and Gradient Effects on Biological Assembly through Monte Carlo Simulations" Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting.

  • K. Puskar, L. Apeltsin, S. Ta'asan, R. Schwartz, P. R. LeDuc (2004), “Understanding Biopolymer Formation through Lattice Based Monte Carlo Simulations.” NIH Polymer Network Conference.

  • K. Puskar, M. Kong, S. Ta'asan, R. Schwartz, P. R. LeDuc (2004), “Understanding Spatial Constraints on Biological Self-Assembly Systems through Lattice-Based Monte Carlo Modeling.” Biophysical Society Annual Meeting.

  • K. Puskar, M. Kong, P. R. LeDuc, S. Ta'asan, R. Schwartz (2003), “Lattice Monte Carlo Models of Cellular Assembly Systems.” NIH Biomedical Information Science and Technology Initiative Consortium Symposium, “Digital Biology: The Emerging Paradigm”.

  • K. (Puskar) Nardini , M. Kong, S. Ta'asan, P. R. LeDuc, R. Schwartz (2003), “Understanding Biological Structure through Dimensionally-Constrained Modeling.” Biomedical Engineering Society Conference.


Back to Personnel