The common goal of all projects is to elucidate fundamental principles governing epithelial tissue mechanobiology and their relevance for tissue function and dysfunction. The projects are inspired by pressing research questions in the field of life sciences (denoted as hypotheses in the respective project descriptions). Each project is co-supervised by an interdisciplinary team consisting of a lead supervisor, a cross-disciplinary co-supervisor and, in some instances, a junior supervisor.

PROJECT A1

Mechanobiology of embryoid bodies

PROJECT A2

Mechanobiological regulation of breast epithelium organization and cell invasion

PROJECT A3

Mechanobiology of adhesion during implantation and early placentation

PROJECT A4

Modeling the 3D shaping of epithelial tissue: The effect of the mechanical microenvironment

 PROJECT B1

3D mapping of epidermal tissue mechanics during growth and upon wounding

 PROJECT B2

Consequences of disease-causing cytoskeletal mutations on epidermal tissue stability

 PROJECT B3

Mechanostimulation of an innervated 3D skin model

 PROJECT C1

Regulation of the epithelial-endothelial signaling interface by shear stress and substrate stiffness

 PROJECT C2

Mechanically induced switches in the resolution of inflammation

 PROJECT C3

Guiding respiratory epithelium towards directed ciliary function

 PROJECT D1

Natural and synthetic hybrid hydrogels to study the effect of mechanical anisotropy on cell behavior and guidance

 PROJECT D2

Mechanobiological challenges related to hydrogel-based bioprinting technology for manufacturing novel 3D cell culture models

 PROJECT D3

Magnetic micromanipulators for probing local rheological properties of scaffolds and vital 3D tissue constructs