PhD in Soft-Matter Modeling for Mechanobiology

Original title: PhD Position in Soft-Matter Modeling for Mechanobiology

A 4-year PhD position is available at the interface of biophysical modeling, soft matter and cell mechanobiology at the Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, within the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Groningen.

What are you going to do?

The project addresses a central question in mechanobiology: how do cells sense, encode and respond to mechanical cues? You will develop a quantitative and predictive framework that links the generation and transmission of mechanical forces to cell mechanics and intracellular signalling, with particular emphasis on mechanosensitive calcium signalling. The aim is to determine how the magnitude, spatial distribution and temporal dynamics of mechanical cues shape cellular responses.

You will investigate an integrated cell–material system in which living cells are mechanically coupled to a stimuli-responsive soft material. Controlled external stimulation will deform the material and generate spatially and temporally defined forces at the cell–material interface. You will develop analytical and numerical models that predict material deformation, force transmission to cells and the resulting changes in cellular mechanics and signalling. The position is primarily computational, but a successful candidate will also contribute to experiments.