Professor G. Ravichandran of the California Institute of Technology gave a seminar Tuesday, March 25, on the quantitative characterization of 3-D deformations of cell interactions with soft biomaterials. He explained how interactions between biochemical processes and mechanical signaling during cell migration, spreading and adhesion play important roles in cellular behavior. In order to investigate this behavior three-dimensional measurement techniques are needed to stimulate in vivo conditions. One technique Ravichandran used was a 3-D full-field measurement technique which measures large deformations in soft materials through laser fluorescence confocal microscopy. His results provided new insights on force fields generated by cells and the role of the mechanical properties of the substrate. The seminar was hosted by Dr. Baek and Dr. Pourboghrat.