Research

Current Research Projects:

• Morphogenesis of the Force-Generating Machinery in Cells
• High-Resolution Stress-Field Mapping in Fiber Networks and Cells
• Structure and Formation of Stress Fibers in Adult Stem Cells
• Non-Linear Elasticity of Hybrid Hydrogels as Extracellular Matrix Models
• Experimental and Theoretical Study of Cellular Mechano-Sensitivity

Research Interests:

• micro mechanics of cells
• biophysics of cell-matrix interactions
• matrix induced adult stem cell differentiation
• mechanics of the nucleus
• structure and mechanics of the ECM
• novel polymeric ECM models
• biofunctional surfaces

Experimental techniques:

• atomic force microscopy
• fluorescence and DIC microscopy
• optical trap
• cell culture
• surface functionalization
• polymer physics and chemistry
• x-ray and neutron scattering and reflectometry
• ellipsometry