Christoph Schmidt
Hertha Sponer Professor of Physics
Professor of Biology
Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
office 2316
(919) 660-2708 email: christoph.schmidt@duke.edu
Renata Garces
Renata designs and performs experiments to explore bacterial cell mechanics. In particular, I’m interested in the information we can get by quantifying the cell response to mechanical inputs. Currently, my main focus is on learning how these tiny cells regulate their inner pressure under different biochemical stresses. Office 2322
I specialize in polymer physics and statistical physics, with expertise in single-molecule force spectroscopy combined with advanced imaging techniques. My research focuses on understanding the physical properties of subcellular components within cells and tissues. Office 2322
Octavio Albarran Arriagada
Theory & Modeling
My research interest is in the mechanics of animal cells. Using the innovative optical tweezers set-up, I measure the mechanical responses and force fluctuations from suspended cells under different conditions. I also study the rheological properties of the nucleus using two methods. The first one is to isolate the nucleus from the cells to perform optical tweezers microrheology, which reduces the interference from the cytoplasm. The second method is to functionalize single-walled carbon nanotubes so that they can be imported into the nucleus. Fluctuations of the nanotubes can be used to compute the local shear moduli. Office 2322
Nura Brimo
My research focuses on the mechanics of cells and the cell nucleus. Office 2322
My research is focused on the intersection between deep learning, complexity, and multiscale modelling of biological systems. Office 2322
Current
My project is related to the biophysical mechanisms of bacterial plasmolysis. The study focuses on how bacterial cells respond structurally and functionally to osmotic stress, particularly on the strain of the plasma membrane during the process. The project aims to deepen the understanding of bacterial osmoregulation and contribute insights into microbial resilience in extreme environments. Duke Kunshan University Office 2322
My current research in the lab is about probing the mechanical properties of the cell nucleus using carbon nanotubes. Duke Kunshan University Office 2322
PhD Students
Miriam Allersma
Teacher at The Harker School, San Jose, CA, USA.
PhD: University of Michigan
Bernhard Schnurr
PhD: University of Michigan
Michael deCastro
PhD: University of Utah
Karen Vermeulen
PhD: VU Amsterdam
Karim Addas
Faculty at American University, Cairo, Egypt.
Aviral Vatsa
University of Glasgow, UK
PhD: VU Amsterdam
Irena Ivanovska
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
PhD: VU Amsterdam
Iwan Schaap
SmarAct GmbH, Oldenburg, Germany
PhD: VU Amsterdam
Jeroen van Zon
Faculty at AMOLF, Amsterdam, NL
PhD: VU Amsterdam
Lukas Kapitein
Assistant Professor at University of Utrecht, NL
PhD: VU Amsterdam
Maryam Atakhorrami
UCL, London, UK
PhD: VU Amsterdam
Rommel Bacabac
Faculty at University of San Carlos, Philippines
PhD: VU Amsterdam
Mikhail Korneev
Bionics Institute, Melbourne, Australia
PhD: VU Amsterdam
Stephane Calmat
SQZ Biotechnologies, Boston, USA
PhD: VU Amsterdam
Siet van den Wildenberg
Université Blaise Pascal, Aubierre, France
PhD: VU Amsterdam
Joost van Mameren
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
PhD: VU Amsterdam
Nadja Nijenhuis
University of Manchester, UK
PhD: UVA Amsterdam
Bram van den Broek
Faculty at Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, NL
PhD: VU Amsterdam
Marten Noom
PhD: VU Amsterdam
Achintya Prahlad
Faculty at Ashoka University, India
PhD: University of Göttingen,(2017)
Alice Wiesbaum
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
PhD: University of Göttingen, (2014)
André Dueselder
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
PhD: University of Göttingen, (2013)
Chris Battle
Ibidi, Gräfelfing, Germany
PhD: University of Göttingen, (2013)
Til Driehorst
Medical Doctor in Bevensen
PhD: University of Göttingen
Christina Jayachandran
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
PhD: University of Göttingen, (2019)
Christina Thiede
Evotec SE, Hamburg, Germany
PhD: University of Göttingen, (2012)
Daniel Haertter
University of Göttingen
PhD: University of Göttingen, (2022)
Florian Schlosser
PhD: University of Göttingen, (2015)
Behzad Golshaei
Company in Texas
PhD: Duke University, (2023)
Heidi Somsel
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
PhD: University of Göttingen (2018)
Knut Heidemann
Fraunhofer ISAS, Sankt Augustin, Germany
PhD: University of Göttingen, (2016)
Marcel Bremerich
Sartorius AG, Goettingen, Germany (Industry)
PhD: University of Göttingen, (2011)
Meenakshi Prabhune
PhD: University of Göttingen, (2015)
Samaneh Rezvani
Picoquant, Berlin, Germany
PhD: University of Göttingen, (2017)
Theresa Kaufeld
PhD: University of Göttingen, (2013)
Ulrich Fromme
PhD: University of Göttingen, (2015)
Volker Henschel
PhD: University of Göttingen, (2012)
Constantin Kohl
PhD: University of Göttingen, (2019)
Alok Wessel
Visicon, Kassel, Germany
PhD: University of Göttingen, (2015)
Mingru Li
Postdoc at Duke University
Duke University (2025)
Xiaoxuan Jian
Optical Metrology Engineer – OPTOFIDELITY
Duke University (2024)
Postdocs
Frederick Gittes
Professor of Physics, Washington State University, Pullman, USA
Alexander Ganago
Adjunct Professor of Electrical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
Daisuke Mizuno
Associate Professor of Materials Physics, Kyushu University, Japan
Catherine Tardin
Staff Scientist, University of Toulouse, France
Giorgia Sgalari
Manager of Competitive Analysis & Open Innovation, Pirelli Tyre, Milano, Italy
Marcel Janson
Professor of Biology, Wageningen University, Netherlands
Gijsje Koenderink
Extraordinary Professor of Physics, VU Amsterdam & Group Leader at AMOLF
Erwin Peterman
Professor of Physics, VU Amsterdam, Netherlands
Gijs Wuite
Professor of Life Sciences, VU Amsterdam, Netherlands
Pedro de Pablo
Assistant Professor, University of Madrid, Spain
Iwan Schaap
Head of Engineering, Hensoldt AG, Germany
Nikta Fakhri
Professor at MIT
Postdoc: 2014
Vitalyi Oliynyk
Silvain Monnier
Kengo Nishi
Lab Manager, UNC Chapel Hill
Postdoc: 2021
Nuria Gavara
Professor, London
Postdoc: 2013
Abhinav Sharma
Postdoc: 2015
Amna Abdalla
Postdoc: 2019
Eugenia Butkevich
Postdoc: 2019
Chonglin Guan
UCL London
Postdoc: from 2016
Jianguo Zhao
MPI Dresden
Postdoc: from 2016
Sufi Raja
Hyderabad
Postdoc: from 2018
Octavio Albarran
Current
Postdoc: from 2018
Renata Garces
Current
Postdoc: from 2014
Stefan Lakämper
Florian Rehfeldt
Group Leader, University of Bayreuth
Postdoc: 2019
Dieter Klopfenstein
Group Leader, University of Göttingen
Postdoc: 2019
Mark Buchanan
An Pham
Postdoc at Northwestern University
Postdoc: 2021
Rita Boggs