About Me
Matthew Leighton
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canadamatthew_leighton@sfu.ca
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I grew up in Vancouver, then moved to Halifax to study at Dalhousie University where I received a bachelor's degree with honours in physics and mathematics. From Fall 2020 to Summer 2024 I earned a PhD in physics at Simon Fraser University under the supervision of Professor David Sivak. In Fall 2024 I started a new position as a Mossman independent postdoctoral fellow at Yale University with the Department of Physics and Quantitative Biology Institute. I'm really interested in the application of quantitative tools from the fields of physics and mathematics to complex problems in biology. In particular, I'm fascinated by the stochastic nature of microscopic processes, as well as the far-from-equilibrium dynamics governing the behaviour of all living organisms. You can find a detailed overview of my research here , or check out some recent popular science pieces covering aspects of my work:
- When Living Cells Malfunction, Can Science Help?, SFU Scholarly Impact of the Week, 2023.
- The Efficiency of Tandem Molecular Machines, APS Physics Magazine, 2023.
- New research sheds light on how molecular “machines” work together to speed up transport, EurekAlert!, 2022.
When I'm not working on research, I like to spend my time:
- Singing: I've had a strong passion for classical choral music as long as I can remember, and have been singing in choirs since the age of 5. I have performed as a soloist with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Victoria Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vancouver Bach Choir, and others. During my time in Halifax I sang as a choral scholar with the University of King's College Chapel Choir directed by Paul Halley. You can listen to recordings of some of our concerts here.
- Skiing: I've loved skiing pretty much all my life. Whenever time, weather, and my location allow I can be found in the mountains shredding gnar and schlarping pow! I'm a certified ski instructor (CSIA Level 1), and I am trained in avalanche risk evaluation and rescue (AST 1).
- Running: My first three years at Dalhousie I was a member of the varsity track team. I specialized in middle distance events, and won a number of individual medals as well as team championships in the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) league over my time with the team. I left in my fourth year in order to free up time to pursue other interests, but still really enjoy trail and mountain running when I have the chance.