Dr. Lea Goentoro

Biography

Lea Goentoro is a professor in the Department of Biology at the California Institute of Technology, focusing on systems biology and the engineering principles underlying biological mechanisms. She obtained her B.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2001 and completed her Ph.D. at Princeton University in 2006. Prior to her current role, she served as an Assistant Professor at Caltech from 2011 to 2018. Her research interests center around the robustness of biological systems, signaling pathways, and the mechanics of development in organisms. In her lab, Goentoro utilizes a variety of experimental and computational tools, including mathematical modeling, computer simulations, and single-cell imaging, to study the interactions and organization of signaling networks and their impact on development. She is particularly interested in the relative perception of cells and the self-repairing mechanisms in jellyfish embryos. She aims to develop a deeper understanding of how biological systems maintain functionality despite challenges.

Research Interests

Experience