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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

                                                 Curriculum vitae

 

 

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

 

 

Kengo Nishi

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

 

 

 

 

Mingru Li

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

 

 

 

 

Sai Smaran S B

My research is focused on the intersection between deep learning, complexity, and multiscale modelling of biological systems. Office 2322

 

 Current

Yuli Lu

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

 

Ziqi Li

My current research in the lab is about probing the mechanical properties of the cell nucleus using carbon nanotubes. Duke Kunshan University Office 2322

 

 

 

 

Post Docs

 

 

Graduate Students

 

Achinthya Prahlad

Achinthya worked on the mechanical Properties of the lch5 Organ in the Drosophila Larva. Graduation Year: 2017

 

Alok Wessel

 

Amna Abdalla Mohammed Khalid

 

 

 

André Düselder

 

An Pham

 

 

 

Behzad Golshaei

Behzad is modeling biological systems, such as cell and dorsal closure,e by using finite element simulation to understand the role of material properties on cells and tissues’ functions. Graduation Year: 2023

 

Christopher Battle

Christopher worked on the mechanics & Dynamics of the Primary Cilium. Graduation Year: 2013

 

Christina Thiede

Christina worked on single-molecule experiments with mitotic motor proteins. Graduation Year: 2012

 

 

Chonglin Guan

 

 

 

 

Constantin Kohl

 

 

 

 

Daniel Härtter

 

 

 

 

Eugenia Butkevich

 

 

 

Marcel Bremerich

Marcel worked on high-bandwidth microrheology of cytoskeletal networks. Graduation Year: 2012

 

Meenakshi Prabhune

Meenakshi worked on DNA-based molecular force sensors in cytoskeletal networks and cells. Graduation Year: 2015

 

 

Nikta Fakhri

 

 

 

Samaneh Rezvani

Samaneh worked on the mechanical and biochemical stimulation of suspended cells in a microfluidic device probed with dual optical tweezers. Graduation Year: 2017

 

 

Stefan Lakämper

Stefan worked on the characterization of the processivity of the fast fungal kinesin, NKin, from Neurospora crassa. Graduation Year: 2003

 

 

Sufi RAJA

 

 

 

 

Theresa Kaufeld

Theresa worked on lab-on-chip design to characterize pore-spanning lipid bilayers.

Graduation Year: 2013

 

 

Till Driehorst

 

 

 

 

 

Ulrich Fromme

Ulrich worked on investigating voltage- and light-sensitive ion channels. Graduation Year: 2016

 

 

 

Ivan Schaap

 

 

 

Jannes Gladrow

 

 

 

 

Jianguo Zhao

 

 

 

 

Kengo Nishi

 

 

 

 

Xiaoxuan Jian

Xiaoxuan studies intracellular force propagation using a FRET-based tension sensor with the help of mechanical micromanipulations.
Office 2322

 

 

 

Office Location: French Family Science Center, # 2220, Box 90305, Durham, NC 27708
Front Office Address:
Box 90305, Durham, NC 27708
Phone:  +1 919 681 2691