![Nuris Figueroa Morales portrait](/certificate/iqbiology/sites/default/files/styles/small/public/people/nuris_figueroa_4x3.jpg?itok=r0NqWXpw)
Assistant Professor
Physics
Research Interests
In our lab, we study听the complex interactions between microorganisms and their environment. Using tools of microfluidics, quantitative video microscopy and image analysis we investigate the听transport of microorganisms: from natural and complex environments, like viscoelastic and anisotropic body fluids; to the effect of the topology of the confining structures, like medical catheters or porous media; to untapping the potential of new 鈥渁ctive鈥 systems propelled by swimming microorganisms. Our multidisciplinary lab aims at preventing microorganism-borne medical conditions, developing novel live materials, and utilizing microorganisms for cleaning the environment.
Selected publications
- N. Figueroa-Morales, R. Soto, G. Junot, T. Darnige, C. Douarche, V. Martinez, A. Lindner, and E. Cl茅ment, 鈥3D spatial exploration by E. coli echoes motor temporal variability,鈥 Phys. Rev. X, vol 10, no. 2, p. 021004, 2020.
- N. Figueroa-Morales, A. Rivera, R. Soto, A. Lindner, E. Altshuler, and E. Cl茅ment, 鈥淓. coli "super-contaminates" narrow ducts fostered by broad run-time distribution,鈥 Science Advances, vol. 6, no. 11, eaay0155, 2020.
- N. Figueroa-Morales, L. Dominguez-Rubio, T. L. Ott, and I. S. Aranson, 鈥淢echanical shear controls bacterial penetration in mucus,鈥 Scientific reports, vol. 9, no. 1, p. 9713, 2019.
- A. J. Mathijssen, N. Figueroa-Morales, G. Junot, 脡. Cl茅ment, A. Lindner, and A. Z枚ttl, 鈥淥scillatory surface rheotaxis of swimming E. coli bacteria,鈥 Nature communications, vol. 10, no. 1, p. 3434, 2019.
- N. Figueroa-Morales, G. L. Mino, A. Rivera, R. Caballero, E. Cl茅ment, E. Altshuler, and A. Lindner, 鈥淟iving on the edge: transfer and traffic of E. coli in a confined flow,鈥 Soft matter, vol. 11, no. 31, pp. 6284鈥6293, 2015.