Matthew Hawkins

Biography

My current work within the Wingert Lab primarily focuses on the early progenitor populations that exist in the developing kidney. Because these cells are so transient in nature, learning about their behavior/ characteristics can be inherently difficult. To attempt to ask/ answer questions regarding these early cell populations, I utilize mathematical modeling to gain insight/ inference into the first actions these cells take when developing the kidney. To support these endeavors, I utilize a mixture of classical statistical/ mathematical tools as well as high performance computing to support algorithmic methods in approximating cellular characteristics. These studies help us better understand these earlier cellular properties in efforts to better understand the etiology of congenital defects of the kidney, but also give us a glimpse into renal regeneration.

Other than my work with mathematical modeling, I am actively involved/ interested in morphogenic patterning of the nephron, the functional unit of the kidney. Much of this work is associated with retinoic acid (RA), a well-known morphogen necessary for proper renal development. Our interest in RA spans basic developmental based questions to RA and its role in disease etiology.

Here at Notre Dame, I am a Arthur J. Schmitt Presidential Leadership Fellow, where I am involved with the Schmitt Leadership Training Program (SLTP). Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!