Maati McKinney

Maati is a 3rd year Ph.D. student in the Molecules, Cells, & Organisms program at Harvard University. She graduated with a B.S. in Mathematics from Spelman College in 2021, and now works at the intersection of biology and physics under the joint tutelage of Dr. Patel and Dr. L. Mahadevan. Maati likes to approach research with an open mind, an interdisciplinary heart, and a working calculator. By integrating approaches from the fields of electron and force microscopy, optics, and evo-devo, she aims to create a more comprehensive picture of structural color generation in Achillides butterfly wings scales. When not in the lab, Maati enjoys roller skating, knitting, and geocaching.