Matt Akamatsu

Principal Investigator

Matt Akamatsu received his PhD in the department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry at Yale University as the first student in Yale’s Integrated Graduate Program in Physics, Engineering and Biology. He worked in Tom Pollard’s lab to study the mechanisms by which fission yeast cells assemble and position their cytokinetic contractile ring for symmetrical cell division. He carried out postdoctoral work as an Arnold O. Beckman researcher at UC Berkeley in the department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, co-advised by Padmini Rangamani (UC San Diego) and David Drubin. There, he combined computational modeling, genome editing of human stem cells, and quantitative fluorescence microscopy to study the mechanisms by which the actin cytoskeleton organizes, produces force, and responds to resistance during mammalian endocytosis. Matt is a recipient of the K99 Pathway to Independence Award, UC Berkeley Outstanding Postdoc Award in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, and the 2020 Porter Prize for Research Excellence from the American Society for Cell Biology. He started his lab at UW in June 2022.

Valerie Bentivegna

Research Scientist/Engineer & Lab Manager

Valerie Bentivegna received her PhD in Life Sciences from the University of Dundee where she worked in Inke Näthke’s lab to study the mechanical properties of cells and tissues in two and three dimensions. She is interested in multidisciplinary approaches to biological questions by combining tissue culture, tissue engineering, fluorescence microscopy, and computational modeling to uncover complex questions. Aside from doing science, Valerie enjoys finding creative ways to communicate science including informal education, tinkering workshops, and comedy. Valerie joined the MatsuLab in October 2022.

Abhishek Raghunathan

Graduate Student

Abhi received his bachelors and masters in biology with a minor in data science from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, in India. He worked with Prof. Murty Srinivasula to study the role of endosomes in the recognition and elimination of damaged mitochondria in cells. Abhi is passionate about understanding how cells sense various facets of their environment and respond robustly at appropriate time scales; one of his favorite questions to ask is – how does the cell know? In Matt’s lab, his is using computational approaches to try and understand the origin of asymmetric branched actin filaments at sites of clathrin mediated endocytosis, and is excited to start working with genome edited stem cells soon. Outside the lab, you can usually find Abhi watching or playing sports, with basketball, badminton, and cricket being his favorites!

Maggie Fuqua

Graduate Student

Hanna Bekele

Undergraduate Student

Hanna Bekele is currently an undergraduate student at the University of Washington. She is studying Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and hopes to minor in Data Science. On campus, she is a part of many organizations including the East African Student Association and the National Society of Black Health Professionals. With this being her first research experience, she is excited to collaborate with the other researchers in the lab to learn more about the cellular mechanisms of endocytosis! Hanna joined the lab in January of 2023.

Semin Kim

Undergraduate Student

Semin Kim is a junior undergraduate student at Yonsei University in  South Korea and she is currently studying as an exchange student in the University of Washington from the autumn of 2022 until the spring of 2023. She is double major in life science and biotechnology (LSBT), as well as computer science (CS). Semin has a strong interest in molecular cell biology and particularly excited to collaborate with others and learn about computational approaches to uncover the secreats of cell membrane and endocytosis dynamics. Her hobby is drawing digital illustrations and growing plants. Semin joined the lab in March of 2023.

Danish Nadeem

Graduate Student

Danish Nadeem completed his Bachelor of Science in Economics & Mathematics, with a minor in Computer Science, laying a strong interdisciplinary foundation for his future endeavors. He advanced his education at the University of Washington, where he pursued a Master’s in Data Science. Passionate about harnessing the power of data, Danish is particularly interested in the application of Data Science and Computer Vision techniques to microscopy data, aiming to distill complex information into meaningful insights. When he’s not immersed in data, Danish can be found on the cricket pitch, marrying his love for sports with team spirit and strategy. Off the field, he is a foodie who not only loves to eat, but can cook pretty well too.

Emma Koves

Undergraduate Student

Emma Koves is a current undergraduate student at the University of Washington, where she pursues a Bachelor’s degree in biology. Emma has a strong interest in applying computational methods to biology and is excited to learn about how to use those methods while studying the forces that actin filaments exert during endocytosis. Outside of school, she enjoys reading and exploring Seattle (especially to discover nice bookshops or cafes!). Emma joined the Akamatsu Lab in February 2024.

Emmet Stephenson

Graduate Student

Emmet is a currently rotating graduate student in the UW Biology PhD program. He received his undergraduate degree in Global Disease Biology at the University of California, Davis where he completed an undergraduate thesis project on transcription factors of the parasite Giardia lamblia. This research inspired Emmet to pivot from pre-medicine to academia, a choice he is very happy with. He is most interested in how cells of various types, but specifically parasites, sense and respond to signals from other cells and their environment. Emmet is most content leaning over a microscope, out in nature looking for wildlife, or being a tabletop RPG nerd! He is excited to learn more about computer modeling and computation this quarter while collaborating with fellow researchers.

Heonsu Kim

Graduate Student

Heonsu Kim is a 1st-year graduate student in the Department of Biology, University of Washington. He received his Bachelors and Masters in Biological Science from Pusan National University in Busan, a beautiful city of film and sea in South Korea. In Professor Tae-Jin Kim’s lab, he developed or utilized several fluorescent protein-based Genetically encoded Biosensors for investigating several cellular biological projects. Heonsu loves to deal with fluorescent protein, microscopy, and design various chimeric proteins with various cloning. In (AKA)MATSU LAB, he is going to work on how the CRISPR/Cas9 system could turn on/off the gene expression epigenetically. Aside from science, He likes watching sports, especially baseball. Heonsu is a big fan of the Seattle Mariners and Lotte Giants. Heonsu joined (AKA)MATSU LAB in April 2023.

Aadarsh Raghunathan

Undergraduate Student