EMPLOYMENT:

Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara CA (2008-present)

Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA (2003-2008)
Advisor: Steven M. Block, Departments of Applied Physics and Biology

EDUCATION:

Ph.D. Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (1999–2003)
Thesis topic: Mechanical and microstructural properties of biological materials
Advisor: David A. Weitz, Department of Physics

M.S. Physics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (1997–99)
Advisor: David A. Weitz, Department of Physics

B.S. Physics, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA (1993–97; highest honors)
Advisor: H. Daniel Ou-Yang, Department of Physics
Minor: Science Writing

INDEPENDENT FUNDING:

Career Award at the Scientific Interface, Burroughs Wellcome Fund (2005-present)
$500,000 award providing 2 years of postdoctoral and 3 years of supplemental faculty funding

Postdoctoral Fellowship, Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation (2004)

RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS:

Measuring the nanomechanical properties of the mitotic kinesin Eg5 (2005-present)
Developed robust optical trapping assay to measure single-molecule properties of Eg5. Established motor is mechanically processive, even under hindering load, and designed model to describe ATP- and force-dependent kinetic mechanism. Currently investigating what controls processivity in Eg5 and other kinesin family members.

Constructed novel optical trapping apparatus for high-resolution measurements of motor proteins (2007-08)
Designed and built novel optical trapping apparatus that employs twin electro-optic deflectors (EODs) to steer laser beam with ultra-high precision. When compared to conventional devices, the EOD-based optical trap shows significant improvements in transmittance, pointing stability, and linearity of drive signal response.

Characterized mechanical properties of cytoplasm (2001-03)
Measured the microstructure and viscoelastic response of Xenopus egg cytoplasmic extracts and living mammalian cells using a combination of microrheology, macrorheology and imaging techniques. Maintained operational control of Harvard’s Center for Imaging and Mesoscale Structures cell culture and microscope facility.

Studied the mechanical environment of a growing tumor in vitro (2002-03)
Investigated stress exerted by a growing multicellular brain tumor within a three-dimensional gel using microrheology and particle tracking techniques. Measured local changes in gel microstructure and cell traction forces during tumor expansion.

Developed multi-particle tracking techniques to probe structured materials (1998-2003)
Developed video-based multi-particle tracking methods to extend microrheology techniques to a new class of heterogeneous materials. Demonstrated that correlated movements of pairs of separated particles report macroscopic rheology, even in locally heterogeneous samples. Applied careful statistical tests to precisely compare neighboring probes and measure variations in local viscoelasticity and/or microstructure. Engineered polymer-coated and protein-resistant colloidal particles and demonstrated that controlling particle-protein interactions is critical to properly interpreting microrheology results.

Built unique microscope-based light scattering apparatus (1998-2001)
Designed and implemented microscope-based light scattering experiment that used bright field imaging to position laser illumination in heterogeneous materials. Measured structure, organization and optical properties of biological tissue.

Developed novel oscillating optical tweezers technique (1995-97)
Constructed oscillating optical tweezers experiment to measure the microrheological properties of polymer solutions and gels. Studied the local viscous and elastic properties of telechelic polymers and bridging-flocculation behavior of polymer-colloid mixtures.

HONORS & AWARDS

• Career Award at the Scientific Interface, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, 2005
• Fellowship Award, Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, 2004
• Wallace-Noyes Fellowship, Harvard University, Department of Physics, 2002
• Travel Grants: Society of Rheology, 2001; American Chemical Society, 2001; van Vleck Grant from the Department of Physics, Harvard University, 2000
• Waldo Semon Award for excellence in undergraduate research in polymer science, 1997
• Alex J. Weinstein Memorial Scholarship, 1995-97
• Harold S. and Melda A. Mohler Memorial Scholarship, 1995-97
• National Science Scholar, 1993-95
• Lehigh University Scholarship, 1993-97
• Member, Sigma Xi, Phi Beta Kappa

PUBLICATIONS

1. Michael T. Woodside and Megan T. Valentine. “Single-molecule manipulation using optical traps,” in Handbook of Single-Molecule Biophysics, eds. Peter Hinterdorfer and Antoine Van Oijen. New York, NY: Springer. In press.
   
   

2. Megan T. Valentine*, Nicholas R. Guydosh*, Braulio Gutiérrez-Medina*, Adrian N. Fehr*, Johan O. Andreasson*, and Steven M. Block. “Precision steering of an optical trap by electro-optic deflection,” Optics Letters 33 599-601 (2008). *equal authorship
   
   
3. Megan T. Valentine and Susan P. Gilbert. “To Step or Not to Step? How Biochemistry and Mechanics Influence Processivity in Kinesin and Eg5,” Current Opinion in Cell Biology 19 75-81 (2007).
   
   
4. Polly M. Fordyce*, Megan T. Valentine* and Steven M. Block. 2007. “Advances in surface-based assays for single molecules,” in Single-Molecule Techniques: A Laboratory Manual, eds. Paul Selvin and Taekjip Ha. Woodbury, NY: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. *equal authorship
   
   
5. Megan T. Valentine, Polly M. Fordyce, and Steven M. Block. “Eg5 steps it up!,” Cell Division 1 31 (2006).
   
   
6. Megan T. Valentine*, Polly M. Fordyce*, Troy C. Krzysiak, Susan P. Gilbert, Steven M. Block. “Individual dimers of the mitotic kinesin motor Eg5 step processively and support substantial loads in vitro,” Nature Cell Biology 8 470 (2006). *equal authorship.
   
   
7. M.T. Valentine, Z.E. Perlman, T.J. Mitchison, and D.A. Weitz. “Mechanical properties of Xenopus egg cytoplasmic extracts,” Biophysical Journal 88 680 (2005).
   
   
8. M.L. Gardel, M.T. Valentine, and D.A. Weitz. (2005) “Microrheology” in Microscale Diagnostic Techniques ed. K. Breuer. New York: Springer-Verlag.
   
   
9. M.T. Valentine, Z.E. Perlman, M.L. Gardel, J.H. Shin, P. Matsudaira, T.J. Mitchison, and D.A. Weitz. “Colloid surface chemistry critically affects multiple particle tracking measurements of biomaterials,” Biophysical Journal 86 4004 (2004).
   
   
10. I.Y. Wong, M.L. Gardel, David R. Reichman, Eric R. Weeks, M.T. Valentine, A.R. Bausch, D.A. Weitz. “Anomalous diffusion probes microstructure dynamics of entangled F-actin networks,” Physical Review Letters 92 178101 (2004).
    
    
11. M.L. Gardel, M.T. Valentine, J.C. Crocker, A.R. Bausch, and D.A. Weitz. “Microrheology of entangled F-actin solutions,” Physical Review Letters 91 158302 (2003).
    
    
12. Vernita D. Gordon, M.T. Valentine, M.L. Gardel, Daniel Andor, Samantha Dennison, Alexei A. Bogdanov, D.A. Weitz, and Thomas S. Deisboeck. “Measuring the mechanical stress induced by a dynamically expanding multicellular tumor system within a three-dimensional in vitro assay,” Experimental Cell Research 289 58 (2003).
    
    
13. A.K. Popp, M.T. Valentine, P.D. Kaplan, D.A. Weitz. “On the microscopic origins of light scattering in tissue,” Applied Optics 42 2871 (2003).
    
    
14. M.T. Valentine, A.K. Popp, P.D. Kaplan, and D.A. Weitz. “Microscope-based static light scattering instrument,” Optics Letters 26 890 (2001).
    
    
15. M.T. Valentine, P.D. Kaplan, D. Thota, J.C. Crocker, T. Gisler, R.K. Prud’homme, M. Beck, and D.A. Weitz. “Investigating the microenvironments of inhomogeneous soft materials with multiple particle tracking,” Physical Review E 64 061506 (2001).
    
    
16. M.T. Valentine, A.K. Popp, P.D. Kaplan, and D.A. Weitz “Microscope-based static light scattering instrument enables precise measurements of heterogeneous materials,” Optics and Photonics News 12 37 (2001).
    [Edition highlights 200 of the most exciting new optics innovations of the year.]
    
    
17. A.K. Popp, M.T. Valentine, P.D. Kaplan, and D.A. Weitz. “Light scattering microscope as a tool to investigate scattering heterogeneity in tissue,” Proceedings of the SPIE, Optical Biopsy III Conference, San Jose, CA, Robert R. Alfano, Ed. 3917 22 (2000).
    
    
18. John C. Crocker, M.T. Valentine, Eric R. Weeks, T. Gisler, P.D. Kaplan, A.G. Yodh, and D.A. Weitz. “Two-point microrheology of inhomogeneous soft materials,” Physical Review Letters 85 888 (2000).
    
    
19. M.T. Valentine, L.E. Dewalt, and H.D. Ou-Yang. “Forces on a colloidal particle in a polymer solution: a study using optical tweezers,” Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter (U.K.). 8 9477 (1996).
    
    

SELECTED INVITED TALKS

• Seminar, Institute for Stem Biology and Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, February 2007
• Seminar, Department of Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology, January 2007
• Seminar, Department of Physics, University of Michigan, January 2007
• Seminar, Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, December 2006
• Seminar, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, November 2006
• Single-molecule Approaches to Biology, Gordon Research Conference, June 2006
• Seminar and Tutorial, Cellular/Molecular Dynamics Group, Scripps Research Institute, April 2006
• Bio-X Protein Engineering and Biophysics Workshop, Stanford University, March 2006
• Cell and Molecular Biology Seminar, Stanford University, February 2006
• Seminar, Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, January 2006
• Seminar, Department of Physics, Lehigh University, July 2004
• Seminar, Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, April 2003
• Squishy Physics Seminar, Harvard University, October 2002
• Seminar, Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, March 2002
• Seminar, Harvard University, May 2001
• Seminar, Harvard University Physics Department, November 1999

SELECTED CONTRIBUTED TALKS & POSTERS

• Biophysical Society Annual Meetings, 2001-03, 2008
• Biophysical Discussions Meeting, 2007
• Single-molecule Approaches to Biology, Gordon Research Conference, 2006
• American Physical Society March Meetings, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2003
• American Chemical Society Spring National Meeting, 2001
• Annual Meeting of the Society of Rheology, 2001
• New England Complex Fluids Workshops, 2000-03

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Interdisciplinary Teaching in Sciences, Engineering, and Social Sciences Workshop, Stanford University, April 12, 2006.
• Burroughs Wellcome Fund – Howard Hughes Medical Institute Course in Scientific Management, Chevy Chase, MD, June 6-10, 2005.
• Responsible Conduct of Research Course, Stanford University School of Medicine, January - March 2004.
• Boulder Summer School for Condensed Matter and Materials Physics: Physics of Soft Condensed Matter, University of Colorado, July 1-26, 2002.
• Co-founder and executive board member Women in Physics organization at the University of Pennsylvania, 1998-99.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Member of: American Physical Society, American Society for Cell Biology, Biophysical Society
• Reviewer for: Science, Nature, Nature Methods, Nature Nanotechnology, Physical Review Letters, Biophysical Journal, Current Biology, Cereal Chemistry, Garland Press