Our profile:

We use mechanobiological tools to study the feedback loop between cells and mechanical cues from their environment, and how these stimuli shape cell mechanics. We develop cutting-edge tools from molecular cell biology and biophysics to apply defined mechanical stimuli to cells and tissues in controlled environments and quantify the resulting cell responses. We apply advanced live-cell microscopy, immunofluorescence imaging, and cell force microscopy. Biologists, physicists, and chemists collaborate to tackle complex scientific tasks in mechanobiology. We value teamwork and strive for excellent supervision.

Your tasks:

You will join the DFG-funded graduate school Mechanobiology in Epithelial 3D Tissue Constructs (MEƎT) and work at the renowned Research Center Jülich. In your project A2, you will investigate the mechanobiological regulation of breast epithelium organization and cell invasion. You will use human-derived 3D breast cell acini to study the role of basement membranes (BM) as regulators of epithelial tissue homeostasis. Your project will focus on cellular signal processing mechanisms at the interface between cells, the BM barrier, and ECM. You will employ cell force microscopy techniques to study the response to mechanical ECM cues on developed normal breast acini and tumorigenic spheroids. Additionally, you will investigate mechano-sensitive ion channels and proto-oncogene activity in invasive cell behavior. Gene expression and protein activation analyses will unravel the signaling circuits that regulate cell adaptation to mechanical ECM stresses. You must meet the Bonn University requirements for Dr. rer. nat. candidates.