معرفی
F. Javier Arsuaga is a Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of California, Davis, with affiliations in the Mathematics Department and multiple graduate groups including Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology; Biostatistics and Statistics; and Mathematics.
- Position: Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology
- Institution: University of California, Davis
- Office: Briggs Hall 0009 and MSB 2115
- Email: jarsuaga@ucdavis.edu
- Graduate Group Affiliations: Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology; Biostatistics, Statistics; Mathematics
Dr. Arsuaga received his BS in Mathematics from Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain in 1993 and his PhD in Mathematics from Florida State University in 2000. His academic journey reflects a unique interdisciplinary path that bridges pure mathematics with molecular biology.
His research focuses on developing mathematical and computational methods to address questions related to the 3D structure of chromosomes. The three-dimensional organization of the genome plays a critical role in cellular processes such as transcription, replication, and repair. His work has particular relevance to understanding DNA packaging in bacteriophages, mitochondrial DNA in trypanosomes (kDNA), and yeast. Dr. Arsuaga employs tools from low-dimensional topology, computational knot theory, random knotting, algebraic topology, persistence homology, combinatorics, statistics, and Monte Carlo methods. His laboratory, the Topological Molecular Biology Lab, is deeply committed to promoting diversity in mathematics and the sciences.
An analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent focus on applying topological methods to biological problems, particularly in three main areas: DNA topology in viral systems, kinetoplast DNA network analysis in trypanosomes, and cancer genomics. His work demonstrates how mathematical approaches can provide novel insights into genome organization, with applications ranging from understanding basic biological mechanisms to identifying patterns in cancer genomes.
- 2018 Plenary speaker: Abel Symposium, Geiranger, Norway
- 2018 Plenary speaker: Encuentros en Algebra Computacional y Aplicaciones (EACA), Zaragoza, Spain
- 2013-2014 Long Term Visitor of the Institute of Mathematics and Its Applications (IMA), Minneapolis, MN
- 2012 Plenary speaker: Conference in Computational Physics, Kobe, Japan
- 2011 Research selected by NSF for the NSF highlights
As an advisor, Dr. Arsuaga has mentored numerous students including Maxime Pouokam and Rachael Phillips who completed Master's theses under his guidance. His laboratory has been supported by multiple National Science Foundation grants including DMS1519375, DMS1057284, and DMS0920887. He co-organizes the Biology and Mathematics in the Bay Area (BaMBA) conference, which encourages dialogue between researchers from different disciplines. His lab is known for being interdisciplinary and vertically integrated, bringing together mathematicians, biologists, and computational scientists to tackle complex biological problems.
The Topological Molecular Biology Lab conducts research at the interface of mathematics and molecular biology, focusing on applications of topological methods to understand genome organization, study genome rearrangements in cancer, and model enzymatic actions such as those of recombinases and topoisomerases. The lab is known for developing innovative mathematical approaches to analyze complex biological structures and has made significant contributions to understanding DNA topology in various biological contexts.
