so I've been debating on talking about my PhD research and finally decided that it's time to start a thread about it

I feel obligated to put a disclaimer that I'm still just a baby PhD student so I'm still learning but please feel free to ask questions, my dms are always open!

my research focuses on a particular area of lipid biophysics that uses a model system known as giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) to probe fundamental questions regarding membrane mechanics and protein-lipid interactions.

you can think of GUVs as basically an empty artificial cell, where we can recreate the plasma membrane of mammalian cells but also have the advantage of being able to control exactly what is in that membrane at any given point in time. (they're also roughly cell-sized, too!)

the lab that I'm working in right now specializes in reconstituting integral memb proteins (specifically GPCRs, signaling proteins) and actually getting them to function in GUVs, which opens the door for a number of applications, both in the realms of basic and translational work

but I'm moving in a new direction with my work! I'm looking at the energetics of the membrane and how bulk membrane properties are affected by the passive presence of these proteins
now ur probably like "what is a 'bulk membrane property' and why do I care??" which are great qs!!