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Ahmet Yildiz received his Ph.D. in Biophysics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2004. After completing postdoctoral work with Ron Vale at the University of California, San Francisco, he joined the Physics Department at the University of California, Berkeley in 2008. His research interests include exploring the intricate organization of eukaryotic cells at various length and time scales, focusing on the role of motor proteins in transporting intracellular components along cytoskeletal tracks. The Yildiz Laboratory employs biochemical and single-molecule biophysical techniques to investigate how motor proteins, such as myosin and dynein, navigate microtubules to facilitate cargo transport within dense cytoplasmic environments. Recent projects have centered on understanding the mechanisms that regulate dynein motility and the intersection of dynein with various cellular signaling pathways. Yildiz aims to elucidate the structural and functional dynamics of dyneins and other motor proteins, particularly in the context of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases.
The Mathematics Subject GRE is required for the Fall 2026 admissions cycle. General GRE is optional.