Kristopher Kubow

Dr. Kristopher Kubow is an Associate Professor and Director of the Light Microscopy and Imaging Facility at James Madison University (JMU). He leads research on cell-environment interactions in cancer and tissue regeneration, while advancing light microscopy education and infrastructure. His research focuses on how cells modify their extracellular matrix and respond to microenvironment cues, with implications for regenerative medicine and oncology.

Education: PhD in Molecular Biophysics from ETH Zurich (2009), BS in Biomedical Engineering from University of Southern California (2002). He teaches Foundations of Biology, Genetics, and Light Microscopy courses, emphasizing hands-on microscopy training. Students engage in semester-long photoblog projects exploring microscopy techniques.

Key research areas include: (1) Extracellular matrix remodeling and its role in cancer metastasis, (2) Biophysical mechanisms of cell migration in 3D matrices, (3) Development of plant-based decellularized scaffolds for tissue engineering, (4) Standardization of microscopy protocols for reproducible research. His lab collaborates regionally through the JMU Light Microscopy Facility, offering training programs for students and researchers.

Advising and grants: Supervises over 20 undergraduate researchers listed on his lab roster, many contributing to his publications (e.g., student co-authors marked with *). His work has been supported by instrumentation grants for advanced microscopy systems. The lab also emphasizes reproducibility through Nature Communications and Journal of Biomolecular Techniques contributions.

Labs/Teams: Director of JMU's Light Microscopy and Imaging Facility (RRID:SCR_021904), leading instrument development and educational outreach programs like the STEM Experience field trip for K-12 students. His lab maintains active collaborations with oncology researchers and tissue engineers.