Mariya Savinov

Research

News

Postdoctoral Fellow at NSF-Simons National Institute for Theory and Mathematics in Biology

Chicago Fellow of UChicago Biological Sciences Division

e-mail: savinov [at] uchicago [dot] edu

CV ORCID @mathbioSavinov Google Scholar

About Me

I am currently a postdoctoral fellow at the NSF-Simons National Institute for Theory and Mathematics in Biology, jointly as a Chicago Fellow of the University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division. In my research, I develop new mathematical models and approaches to explore biomechanical processes arising in cell biology, with a special focus on the interplay between active forces, microenvironment mechanics, and mechanochemical feedback. Using data-driven perspectives and methods (e.g., with the Mangan group), I use biophysical models to generate experimentally testable predictions which I explore with collaborators including the Cytomorpho Lab, Munro Lab, Nirody Lab, and others.

I obtained my PhD in Mathematics at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences advised by Professor Alex Mogilner, supported by the NSF GRFP. My dissertation work primarily focused on modeling experimentally observed in vitro actomyosin dynamics, with additional work on the collective dynamics of tumor cell clusters.

Education

	2020 - 2025 New York University Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics
	2016 - 2020 University of Pittsburgh Bachelor of Philosophy in Mathematics and Physics

Outreach

I believe it is crucial that we work hard to make mathematics more inclusive, supportive, and welcoming to individuals who have been historically marginalized in the mathematical sciences. In pursuit of this, during my PhD I co-organized the Courant DEI Reading Group as well as led the effort to generate an internal survey to assess the concerns and satisfaction of PhD students in the department. In addition, I have participated as a lecturer for cSplash, the Courant annual math-outreach lecture series for high-schoolers, a speaker at Northeastern Illinois University's Mathematical and Statistical Modeling of Complex Systems Workshop for undergraduates in mathematics and economics, and the University of Illinois Chicago's Young Scholars Program for high-schoolers. I am committed to continue my efforts in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion through mentorship and volunteering in the surrounding community.