Mechanics of Biological Systems in Health and Disease
We invite applications for a postdoctoral research position focused on the mechanical characterization of biological systems in health and disease, combining atomic force microscopy (AFM), advanced fluorescence and confocal microscopy, and quantitative biophysics. The project aims to elucidate how mechanical properties and forces emerge from molecular and structural organization, and how these properties are altered by pathological processes across multiple biological scales.
The position is available in the team of Dr. Andra C. Dumitru in the nBIO group at LIBST, UCLouvain, within a highly interdisciplinary research environment with access to state-of-the-art instrumentation for nanomechanical probing of soft matter and correlative imaging.
Job description
You will work at the interface of experimental biophysics, mechanobiology, and quantitative biology, developing and applying innovative approaches to characterize mechanical phenotypes across scales. Research directions may include:
- Quantitative mechanical measurements of single molecules, cells, nuclei, and tissues
- AFM-based force spectroscopy, indentation, and correlative AFM–confocal approaches
- Investigation of structure–mechanics relationships, including the role of post-translational modifications
- Mechanical phenotyping in physiological and disease contexts (cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases)
- Integration of mechanical data with imaging-based and molecular readouts
- Development of new experimental or analytical pipelines for multiscale mechanical analysis
The project is intentionally open and offers substantial freedom to shape research directions based on the candidate’s expertise and interests, while remaining aligned with the group’s core focus on mechanics and disease.
Profile
We are looking for a candidate who has:
- A PhD in Physics, Chemistry, Biophysics, or a closely related field
- Experience with atomic force microscopy or related scanning probe techniques
- Background or strong interest in single-molecule, cell, or tissue mechanics
- Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a research team
- Strong scientific communication skills in spoken and written English
We offer
- A fully funded postdoctoral position for 1 year, with possibility of extension
- Access to state-of-the-art AFM and advanced imaging platforms
- A highly interdisciplinary and collaborative research environment within LIBST, UCLouvain
- Opportunities for scientific independence, method development, and career development
- Integration into an active international network in biophysics and mechanobiology
Application
Interested candidates should submit the following to Dr. Andra C. Dumitru by email.