معرفی
Max Wilson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). His research focuses on understanding how cells perceive and respond to stress, particularly in the context of aging and age-related diseases. He leads the Wilson Lab, which combines tools from biology, engineering, and physics to study cellular decision-making and signaling networks using optogenetic systems.
Wilson earned his PhD in Molecular Biology from Princeton University under Zemer Gitai and Ned Wingreen, followed by postdoctoral training with Jared Toettcher at Princeton. He joined UCSB in 2018. His lab develops optogenetic tools to dissect stress response pathways, particularly in human induced pluripotent stem cells, to explore how stress dynamics influence cellular resilience and aging. Key areas include the study of hormesis and interventions to enhance healthspan.
Research interests span cellular stress biology, developmental signaling, synthetic biology, and biomaterials. The lab collaborates with the Center for Aging and Longevity Studies (CALS) and the Neuroscience Research Institute. Wilson mentors graduate students, undergraduates, and postdoctoral researchers in multidisciplinary projects.
Publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches, including optogenetic control of stress pathways, developmental modeling, and biomaterial design. The lab’s work bridges fundamental biology with translational goals, such as improving IVF success rates and combating age-related diseases.
