PhD project: SOFT TISSUE MECHANICS AND TRANSPORT IN SOLID TUMORS

October 18, 2019 in Funding Opportunity

• Title of project: Soft Tissue Mechanics of Contracting Cells
• Funding agency (Optional): National Science Foundation
• Description: Tissue engineering and regenerative
  medicine hold the promise of rebuilding organs for transplants and
  reconstructing diseased tissues.  A critical challenge for
  tissue engineering is the ability to design them to mimic mechanical
  properties of the tissues they replace. Biological cells are not passive
  but actively alter their surroundings by reaching out, grabbing onto
  the protein-based scaffold around them and contracting.  Cell-generated
  stresses are an important consideration in human health and disease
  because they alter mechanical and failure behavior of tissues.  The goal
  of this project will be to measure and model the effect of living cells
  as they contract and continuously alter mechanical properties of
  engineered tissues. Computational bio-composite models that quantify the
  contributions of cell contraction to the constitutive response of
  engineered tissues will be developed. Consolidated experimental
  and modeling results will highlight design differences based on gel,
  cell shape, cell density, and cell contraction with the goal of
  providing new guidelines for customizing properties of tissues for
  healthcare applications.
• Restrictions/Constraints: N/A
• Knowledge and skills needed: Students with interest
  in mechanics and modeling preferred.  Independent thinkers with some
  knowledge of biological systems are appreciated.
• How to apply: Send an email to Dr. Sarntinoranont with a copy of your CV and statement of interest.
• Faculty contact/webpage: Malisa Sarntinoranont, msarnt@ufl.edu , http://web.mae.ufl.edu/~msarnt/