Research Bio

Matthew Welch is a cell biologist and microbiologist whose research investigates cell structure and host-pathogen interactions. He is best known for studies of actin polymerization and how microbes hijack the host cell cytoskeleton to promote infection. Welch's lab integrates cell biology, genetics, and biochemistry to study how actin networks are regulated and how they are exploited by microbial pathogens during infection. His research advances understanding of fundamental cell biology and provides insights into mechanisms of infectious disease.

He is Professor and Co-Chair of Molecular and Cell Biology at UC Berkeley. His research has been published in journals such as Cell, Nature Cell Biology, and The Journal of Cell Biology. Welch has received NIH funding and recognition from the American Society for Cell Biology, American Society for Microbiology, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. At Berkeley, he teaches molecular and cell biology and mentors students in cell biology and infection research.

Research Expertise and Interest

biology, cell motility, role of the actin cytoskeleton in cell locomotion, shape change, actin filament assembly, bacterial and viral pathogens