March 2024 – Our collaborative paper with Niels Holten-Andersen, David Kaplan and Markus Buehler is accepted in ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering. We used AFM and molecular dynamics simulations to investigate cooperative metal ion-binding on polypeptide templates.

March 2024 – Kerstin is elected as the speaker of the Biological Physics section of the German Physical Society. Congratulations on this important job!

February 2024 – The review with Roel Hammink, Paul Kouwer and Susana Rocha is published in Cell Reports Physical Science. It provides a comprehensive overview of the biomedical applications of polyisocyanopeptides.

February 2024 – The rheometer is installed and we know how it works. Looking forward to measuring squishy things again!

January 2024 – Philipp Thurner from Vienna University of Technology is visiting us. We really enjoyed the lecture about multiscale collagen mechanics.

November 2023 – Thorsten is starting as our new team assistant. We are very much looking forward to working with you!

August 2023 – Our new AFM is delivered and installed. Now we can really get started.

July 2023 – Nadja has new plans and is leaving our group… Thank you very much for your tremendous support with setting up nearly everything (incl. the necessary detective work)!

June 2023 – Bodo Wilts from Paris Lodron University Salzburg is visiting us. Thank you for many colorful insights into photonic crystals of insects.

April 2023 – Geonho is leaving us after taking on the challenge of moving from Potsdam to the empty lab in Linz. We wish him all the best for continuing his career in Korea!

March 2023 – Our paper from a collaboration with Cecile Bidan about mineralized E. coli biofilms is accepted in Chemistry of Materials.

March 2023 – Our collaborative paper with Arun Sampathkumar and Kim Johnson is accepted in Frontiers in Plant Science. We used AFM to determine the mechanical properties of plant cell walls.

March 2023 – Our collaborative paper with Ana Vila Verde and Angelo Valleriani about single-molecule force spectroscopy of long coiled coils is accepted in Macromolecular Bioscience. Congratulations Anna-Maria and Zeynep!

February 2023 – Russell is awarded a MSCA fellowship. He is planning to develop new applications of our molecular force sensors. Congratulations!

January 2023 – Our paper about the influence of metal ions on the viscoelastic properties of E. coli biofilms is published in ACS Omega. Thanks, Cecile Bidan for the excellent collaboration! Congratulations, Adrien!

December 2022 – Laura starts as a MSc student. In collaboration with the department of Sabine Hild, she will investigate PET-degrading enzymes with AFM. Welcome!

November 2022 – Kerstin presents her inaugural lecture with the title “Mechanical Engineering of Proteins“. A great opportunity to end the day with a lab opening party!

October 2022 – Julian starts as a MSc student. He will also work on a hydrogel project investigate how crosslink functionality affects the viscoelastic properties of coiled coil crosslinked hydrogels. It is great to see the group growing!

October 2022 – Lorenz starts as a MSc student. He will investigate how protein aggregation and protein-induced mineralization will affect the properties of protein-polymer hybrid hydrogels. Welcome!

September 2022 – The great day has come… our lab furniture is finally being delivered. Soon, we will no longer have to live on a construction site!

September 2022 – Kerstin is elected as deputy speaker of the Biophysics section of the German Physical Society. Looking forward to exciting times ahead!

July 2022 – Kerstin serves as the vice chair of the inaugural Gordon Research Conference on Multiscale Mechanochemistry & Mechanobiology in Ventura, California. We are super happy that we have contributed to making this happen!

May 2022 – Geonho moves from MPI to JKU. Now as a PostDoc, he will set up rheology of our peptide-polymer hybrid hydrogels and finish all the exciting projects from his PhD in Potsdam. Welcome in Linz!

April 2022 – Geonho defends his PhD thesis about how to obtain bottom-up control of peptide-polymer hybrid hydrogels. Congratulations!

March 2022 – Russell starts as our first PostDoc. He will continue our work on molecular force sensors for mammalian cell culture and transfer all the methods from the MPI to JKU. Welcome at JKU!

October 2021 – Nadja starts as the administrative assistant of the new group. We are very happy to have support for navigating all the unknowns of starting at a new university in a new country. Welcome!

October 2021 – Marlene starts as the technical assistant of the new group. She will support us with converting empty offices into our new labs. Thank you very much already in advance!

October 2021 – The new group officially starts at JKU Linz. Exciting times ahead…