UBC Mathematical Biology

Jupiter Algorta

I am a PhD student in Mathematical Biology at the University of British Columbia, working under the supervision of Dr. Leah Edelstein-Keshet and Dr. Anotida Madzvamuse. My research focuses on computational modelling of single-cell behaviour, particularly how cells polarize and migrate in response to chemical and mechanical cues. I combine Cellular Potts Models, finite element methods, and optogenetic data to investigate cell motility, polarity reversal, and signal transduction. Additionally, I organize the UBC Math-Bio Seminar Series.

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Research Interests

Cell Motility

Investigating how single cells respond to spatial and temporal light stimulation, and modelling downstream cell polarity reversal cues.

Cellular Potts Models

Simulating multicellular structures, cell shapes, and cell sorting dynamics in tissues using agent-based Morpheus modelling.

Finite Element Methods

Solving reaction-diffusion PDEs (such as Rac-PIP3 networks) on dynamic, deforming cell boundaries utilizing Gmsh and FEniCSx solvers.

Selected Publications

Academic works, journal papers, preprints, and theses.

2026

Preprint

Mechanochemical Feedback Enables Efficient Navigation in Complex Chemical Gradients

Edwin Huras, Jupiter Algorta, Henry De Belly, Orion D. Weiner, and Leah Edelstein-Keshet

bioRxiv preprint doi:10.64898/2026.07.01.735938 (2026)

PDF bioRxiv GitHub

@article {Huras2026.07.01.735938,
	author = {Huras, Edwin and Algorta, Jupiter and De Belly, Henry and Weiner, Orion D. and Edelstein-Keshet, Leah},
	title = {Mechanochemical Feedback Enables Efficient Navigation in Complex Chemical Gradients},
	elocation-id = {2026.07.01.735938},
	year = {2026},
	doi = {10.64898/2026.07.01.735938},
	publisher = {Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory},
	URL = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/early/2026/07/02/2026.07.01.735938},
	eprint = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/early/2026/07/02/2026.07.01.735938.full.pdf},
	journal = {bioRxiv}
}

2026

Preprint

How negative feedback from filamentous actin affects cell shapes and motility

Jack M. Hughes, Jupiter Algorta, and Leah Edelstein-Keshet

arXiv:2602.08779 [physics.bio-ph] (2026)

PDF arXiv GitLab Morpheus Model

@article{hughes2026negative,
  title={How negative feedback from filamentous actin affects cell shapes and motility},
  author={Hughes, Jack M and Algorta, Jupiter and Edelstein-Keshet, Leah},
  journal={arXiv preprint arXiv:2602.08779},
  year={2026}
}

2026

Journal Article 🏆 1st Place OpenVT 2026

Investigating Local Negative Feedback of Rac Activity by Mathematical Models and Cell Motility Simulations

Jupiter Algorta, Jason P. Town, Orion D. Weiner, Leah Edelstein-Keshet

iScience, 29(1), 107936 (2026)

PDF Journal Link GitLab Morpheus Model

@article{algorta2026investigating,
  title={Investigating Local Negative Feedback of Rac Activity by Mathematical Models and Cell Motility Simulations},
  author={Algorta, Jupiter and Town, Jason P and Weiner, Orion D and Edelstein-Keshet, Leah},
  journal={iScience},
  volume={29},
  number={1},
  pages={107936},
  year={2026},
  publisher={Elsevier},
  doi={10.1016/j.isci.2026.107936}
}

2025

Journal Article

Modeling and Simulating Single and Collective Cell Motility

Jupiter Algorta, Ali Fele-Paranj, Jack M. Hughes, and Leah Edelstein-Keshet

Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology, 17(12), a041796 (2025)

PDF Journal Link Morpheus Model

@article{algorta2025modeling,
  title={Modeling and Simulating Single and Collective Cell Motility},
  author={Algorta, Jupiter and Fele-Paranj, Ali and Hughes, Jack M and Edelstein-Keshet, Leah},
  journal={Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology},
  volume={17},
  number={12},
  pages={a041796},
  year={2025},
  publisher={Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press},
  doi={10.1101/cshperspect.a041796}
}

2025

Master's Thesis

How do cells decide where to go?

Jupiter Algorta

M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Mathematics, The University of British Columbia (2025)

PDF UBC cIRcle Link

@mastersthesis{algorta2025decide,
  title={How do cells decide where to go?},
  author={Algorta, Jupiter},
  school={University of British Columbia},
  year={2025},
  type={Master's Thesis},
  url={https://open.library.ubc.ca/soa/cIRcle/collections/ubctheses/24/items/1.0449894}
}

Selected Projects

Software, simulation packages, and numerical solver pipelines.

Simulation Model

Rac Local Feedback Sim

Morpheus models evaluating how local negative feedback of Rac activity regulates cell polarization. Contains all files to reproduce the simulation work in Algorta et al., iScience 2026.

Morpheus Python

View on GitLab

Simulation Model

F-Actin Motility Model

Numerical Potts modelling exploring how negative feedback loops from filamentous actin waves shape migrating cells. Contains all scripts to reproduce the work in Hughes et al., arXiv 2026.

Morpheus Python

View on GitLab

In Progress

Finite Element Solver

Moving Cell FEM Framework with GUI

An interactive simulation environment combining boundary element methods and finite element solvers for bulk-surface PDEs with a graphical user interface for real-time parameter configuration.

FEniCSx

Key Frameworks & Tools

Much of my cellular simulation models and numerical solver pipelines are built with these core tools:

Morpheus

FEniCSx

Selected Talks

Keynotes, seminars, and conference presentations.

May 2026 Workshop Talk

A Data-Driven Model of Polarity Reversal in Migrating Cells

BIRS Workshop: A Roadmap towards Developing Mechanobiochemical Models for Single and Collective Cell Migration through Complex Non-Isotropic Environments

Banff International Research Station, Banff AB, Canada

Download PowerPoint Slides BIRS Website

Jul 2025 Workshop Tutorial

How to model in Morpheus

The OpenVT Workshop 2025, Tutorial Session

Edmonton AB, Canada

OpenVT Website

Jul 2025 Conference Talk

Simulating Cell Decisions and Embryo Structure with Morpheus

2025 Society for Mathematical Biology Annual Meeting

Edmonton AB, Canada | Mini-Symposium: Multicellular Agent-Based Modelling - The OpenVT Project (Part 1)

Jul 2025 Conference Talk

Investigating Local Negative Feedback of Rac Activity by Mathematical Models and Cell Motility Simulations

2025 Society for Mathematical Biology Annual Meeting

Edmonton AB, Canada | Mini-Symposium: Mechanistic modeling from inter- to intra-cellular phenomena

Jan 2025 Conference Poster

Modelling Optogenetic Control of Cellular Motility and Exploring Exotic Behaviours

2025 Directed Cell Migration Gordon Research Conference, Main Poster Session

Lucca, Italy

Poster PDF

Nov 2024 Meeting Talk

Exploring Cellular Polarization and Motility Through Bulk-Surface Dynamics

2024 Canadian Mathematics Society Winter Meeting

Richmond BC, Canada | Mini-Symposium: From single to collective cell migration: A geometric multi-physics bulk-surface PDE approach

Apr 2024 Meeting Talk

Modelling Optogenetic Control of Cellular Motility

SIAM Life Sciences Meeting

Portland OR, USA | Mini-Symposium: Dynamics of Cell Regulatory Proteins with Connections to Cellular Processes

UBC Math-Bio Seminar

The weekly Mathematical Biology Seminar Series at UBC.

Since September 2024, I have hosted and organized the UBC Mathematical Biology Seminar Series. This weekly gathering serves as a space for researchers to share their latest findings. On occasion, we host day-long events, such as the James Glazier Seminar Day and the Mark Lewis Seminar Day, featuring faculty and student presentations alongside a keynote address by our distinguished guest.

2026–2027 Seminar Schedule

Coming soon...

2025–2026 Seminar Schedule

Jun 03, 2026

Roeland Merks (Universiteit Leiden)

"Mathematical models of cell and extracellular matrix interactions in animals and in plants"

May 20, 2026

Charles-Henri Lecellier (Institute of Molecular Genetics of Montpellier)

"Strong Signals, Hidden Clues: Refining Sequence-to-Function Models to Capture the Full Spectrum of Biological Signals Across the Genome"

Apr 15, 2026

Jared Oliver Barber (IU)

"Mechanistic models of cell migration"

Apr 08, 2026

Kurt Haas (UBC)

"Imaging information-driven neural circuit growth within the developing brain"

Mar 25, 2026

Joel Vanin (Indiana)

"V-Cornea: A Multi-Scale In Silico Framework for Ocular Toxicology and IVIVE"

Mar 18, 2026

Ben Ashby (SFU)

"Causes and consequences of coevolutionary cycling"

Mar 11, 2026

David Hernández Aristizábal (Université Côte d'Azur)

"Basement membrane turnover drives filopodial protease-independent invasion"

Mar 02, 2026

Mark Lewis (UVic)

"Spatial ecology and predator-prey dynamics in changing environments"

Feb 25, 2026

Francesca Ballatore (Université Côte d'Azur)

"A geometric surface PDE model for cell–nucleus translocation through confinement"

Feb 11, 2026

Reginald McGee (Haverford College)

"Mathematical approaches to cell sorting and tissue mechanics"

Feb 04, 2026

Debraj Ghose (UCSF)

"Computational models of subcellular signaling dynamics"

Jan 28, 2026

Sofie Verhees (UBC)

"Finite element methods for cell shape deformation and PDE kinematics"

Jan 23, 2026

Tim Tian (UBC)

"Mathematical models of signal transduction in cell migration"

Jan 14, 2026

Puneet Velidi (UVic)

"Applications of Protein Folding Models in Immunotherapeutic Research"

Dec 03, 2025

Edwin Huras (UBC)

"Mathematical modelling of cell polarization under chemical gradients"

Nov 26, 2025

Anamika Agrawal (U Washington)

"Computational modelling of cell regulatory networks"

Nov 19, 2025

Yu-Chen Chang (Harvard)

"Agent-based modelling of multicellular systems and morphogenesis"

Nov 05, 2025

Nargess Khalilgharibi (UCL)

"Biophysical mechanisms of cell shape changes in epithelial tissues"

Oct 29, 2025

Daniel Cooney (Illinois)

"PDE models for evolutionary dynamics and the evolution of cooperation"

Oct 22, 2025

Annie Innes-Gold (Hawaii)

"Herbivory and temperature mediate coral reef ecosystem dynamics"

Oct 15, 2025

Dhananjay Bhaskar (Wisconsin)

"Cell Sorting and Tissue Invasion using Computational Cell-based Models"

Oct 08, 2025

Clinton Durney (BCCRC)

"Mathematical modelling of tobacco use dynamics and cessation"

Sep 24, 2025

JC Loredo-Osti (Memorial)

"Modelling and calibrating the outbreak of an infectious disease in a small population"

Sep 17, 2025

Alex Beams (SFU)

"Branching out from compartmental models to network epidemiology"

Sep 10, 2025

Cindy Greenwood (UBC)

"The Rainbow and the Brain"

2024–2025 Seminar Schedule

Apr 30, 2025

Mathilda Whittle (UBC Zoology)

"Modelling parasite evolution under increasing temperatures in vector-borne disease"

Apr 23, 2025

Chapin Korosec (York)

"Modelling the immune system response to vaccination"

Apr 16, 2025

Cameron Smith (Oxford)

"Modelling of infections at within- and between-host levels"

Apr 02, 2025

Asher Leeks (UBC Zoology)

"The Social Lives of Viruses"

Mar 26, 2025

Caroline Mburu (BCCDC)

"Harnessing Mathematical Modelling and Epidemiological Data for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Public Health Decision Making"

Mar 19, 2025

Anotida Madzvamuse (UBC)

"Mathematical modelling and numerical simulations of cell migration"

Mar 12, 2025

Morgan Craig (Montreal)

"Quantitative and computational biology methods in immunology"

Feb 26, 2025

Alex Mogilner (NYU/Courant)

"Self-organisation of movement: from single cell to collective motility"

Dec 04, 2024

Orion Weiner (UCSF)

"How cells measure space: Spatial compasses and self-organised gradients"

Nov 27, 2024

Hermann Eberl (Guelph)

"This Orchard is on Fire -- A Spatio-Temporal Model of Blossom Blight"

Nov 20, 2024

James A. Glazier (Indiana)

"Multiscale multicellular modelling of tissue function and disease using CompuCell3D"

Nov 06, 2024

Ailene Macpherson (SFU)

"Biodiversity Mathematics: 100 years of modelling diversity dynamics"

Oct 30, 2024

Pras Pathmanathan (FDA)

"Computational Modelling for Medical Devices"

Oct 23, 2024

Davide Cusseddu (Minho)

"Mathematical modelling of cellular systems"

Oct 16, 2024

Nilima Nigam (SFU)

"Skeletal muscle: modelling and computation"

Oct 09, 2024

George Berry (UBC)

"Modelling evolution in dynamic populations: the decoupled Moran Process"

Oct 02, 2024

Leonila Lagunes (Leo) (UCLA)

"Modelling reveals the strength of weak interactions in stacked ring assembly"

Sep 25, 2024

Jaye Sudweeks (UBC)

"Environmental feedback maintains cooperation in a structured model"

Sep 11, 2024

Leah Keshet (UBC)

"Mathematical modelling applied to women's health"

Education & Experience

Academic timeline and qualifications.

Download Full CV

Ph.D. Student in Mathematical Biology

2025 - Present

University of British Columbia | Advisors: Dr. Leah Edelstein-Keshet & Dr. Anotida Madzvamuse

Investigating how cell deformation plays an important role in PDE kinematics, utilizing multiple frameworks such as Cellular Potts Modelling (CPM) and finite element methods (FEM).

M.Sc. in Mathematics

2023 - 2025

University of British Columbia | Thesis: "How do cells decide where to go?"

Developed mathematical models and spatial simulation frameworks of directed cell migration and local negative feedback pathways in eukaryotic cells.

B.Sc. in Mathematics

2019 - 2023

University of British Columbia

Graduated with a broad foundation in applied mathematics, numerical computing, and mathematical biology models.

Teaching Experience

MATH 101: Integral Calculus

Jan 2026 – Apr 2026

Small Class Instructor (4 sections, ~144 students) | University of British Columbia

Taught small class sessions for integral calculus. Each one-hour session blended concise lectures introducing core concepts with collaborative group worksheets.

MATH 180: Differential Calculus

Sept 2025 – Dec 2025

Small Class Instructor (2 sections, ~56 students) | University of British Columbia

Taught two-hour small class sessions using an active learning format: one hour of lecture followed by one hour of collaborative group worksheet problem-solving. This course structure complemented the students' two hours of large lecture instruction.

MATH 110: Differential Calculus

Sept 2024 – Apr 2025

Tutorial Instructor (3 sections, ~31 students) | University of British Columbia

Conducted one-and-a-half-hour tutorial sessions for a year-long differential calculus course. Took the approach of utilizing this time to review lecture content alongside guided problem-solving exercises.

Let's Connect

I am always open to collaborations, discussing physics modelling, or talking about post-doc opportunities. Feel free to reach out via email or connect with me on social platforms.

jupitera@math.ubc.ca

Department of Mathematics, University of British Columbia, 1984 Mathematics Road, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2

GitLab

@jupiteralgorta

Google Scholar

Jupiter Algorta Citations