Caleb is originally from Billings, MT and attended Montana State University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. While at Montana State, Caleb discovered his interest in the intersection of biology and mechanics. He researched how osteocytes change the nanomechanical properties of local bone tissue in the Heveran Biomechanics and Bio-inspired Materials Lab.
Now, Caleb is a PhD candidate in Sophie Dumont’s lab, broadly interested in understanding the mechanics underlying mammalian cell division. More specifically, Caleb is focused on using micron-scale biophysical assays to better understand how the mammalian spindle senses, responds to, and repairs force-induced damage to its structure at the molecular scale. Knowledge uncovered from this work, will hopefully lead to a more complete picture of how the spindle maintains its dynamic structure while subject to internal and external forces throughout cell division.
Outside of the lab, Caleb enjoys cheering on Bay Area sports teams, golfing, cooking, and checking out local breweries.