Group Leader
Elisabetta Ada Cavalcanti-Adam
Professor and Chair in Cellular Biomechanics
at University of Bayreuth
​
Research Interests
- Mechanobiology of cell adhesion
- Cell-extracellular matrix interactions
- Force sensors and force microscopy
Postdoctoral Researchers
Victoria Levario Diaz
Postdoctoral Researcher
PhD in Nanoscience and Functional Nanomaterials, University of Bristol (UK)
M.Sc. Nanomaterials, University of Bristol (UK)
B.Sc. in Biology, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) (Mexico)
​
My main project consisted in developing a novel protocol to fabricate 1D micro-nanopatterned stripes by integrating the block copolymer micelle nanolithography (BCMNL) technique and maskless near UV lithography-based photopatterning to study the coordination of cell front-rear dynamics during cell migration under the influence of lateral integrin clustering.
PhDÂ Students
Federica Pennarola
PhD Candidate
M.Sc. in Physics, Heidelberg University (Germany)
B.Sc. in Physics, University of Rome Tor Vergata (Italy)
​
In my project we are trying to measure the forces involved in clathrin-mediated endocytosis of nanoparticles and viruses. We use a bottom-up approach combining different molecular and surface chemistry techniques that will allow us to decouple the different physico-chemical contributions to the uptake process.
Andreas Fink
PhD Candidate
M.Sc. Chemistry, University of Heidelberg
B.Sc. Chemistry, University of Heidelberg (Germany)
​
We are trying to model early stages in directed cell migration, cell polarisation and adhesion using synthetic approach, allowing us to have full control over the system.  This might allow us to understand the underlying cellular processes and dynamics on a level, that enables us to recreate them using a minimal set of molecules in a bottom-up approach.
Grégoire Lemahieu
PhD Candidate
M.Sc. in Life Siences, École Normale Supérieure - PSL, Paris (France)
M.Sc. in Science and Technology (Physics, Chemistry, Biology), ESPCI-PSL, Paris (France)
​
​We are studying the effect of tissue fluidification in cancer collective migration. In particular, we use breast carcinoma spheroids and try to understand their mechanics of invasion in 2D or confined environment, as well as the cell-cell and cell-substrate interactions at stake.
I Chen
PhD Candidate
M.Sc. Matter to Life at Heidelberg University (Germany)
M.Sc. Material Science at National Tsing Hua University (Taiwan)
B.Sc. Material Science at National Tsing Hua University (Taiwan)
​
I am trying to characterize heterogeneous populations of cancer cells via studying cell motility and mechanics behavior. Besides Ada’s group, I am also co-supervised under Prof. Christine Selhuber-Unkel and Dr. Aldo Leal-Egana at IMSEAM with the research of artificial tumor and cancer biomechanics. We aim to develop a 3D-1D tumor-like model to discover the missed link between cancer cellular pathogenicity and tumor biomechanics.
​
Michelle Kemper
PhD Candidate
M.Sc. Matter to Life at University of Göttingen (Germany)
M.Sc. Mathematics at University of Göttingen (Germany)
B.Sc. Mathematics at University of Göttingen (Germany)
​
COLLECTIVE DYNAMICS AND MECHANICS
In my project, we investigate the molecular mechanics involved in the formation and stabilization of epithelial domes. Epithelial monolayers occur in organisms in all forms, from spherical in alveoli to tubular in the kidney. Understanding the biophysical mechanisms involved in the formation and rigidity of such 3D epithelial monolayers at the molecular level sheds light on the role of cell-cell adhesion in several organs. I am using various tools from micropatterning to microfluidics and theoretical modeling to approach the research questions.
Cristina Rodriguez Quinteros
PhD Candidate
M.Sc. Molecular Biotechnology, University of Heidelberg
B.Sc. Molecular Biotechnology, University of Heidelberg
​
In my project, we are interested in understanding the role of cell interaction strenght and stiffness in the immune cell communication. This project is a collaboration between the group of Prof. Cavalcanti-Adam and the groups of Prof. Fackler at the CIID and Prof. Göpfrich at the ZMBH in Heidelberg. This is an interdisciplinary project aiming to combine immunology, cell biology, biophysics and molecular DNA engineering to elucidate the role of adhesion forces in the bi-directional communication at the immune synapse and use a bottom up approach to modulate it.
Lena Strieker
PhD Candidate
M.Sc. Matter to Life, Heidelberg University (Germany)
B.Sc. Biochemistry, Göttingen University (Germany)
​
My work is focused on the influence of the plasma membrane (sphingo-)lipid composition and its effect on cell mechanics. In this context, I’m interested in sphingolipid function at the molecular level regarding the nano- and microscale membrane organization and how this is linked to the (multi-)cellular scale with cell-cell or cell-matrix adhesion.
Felix Hybel
Technical Assistant
I completed my training as a Medical Technical Assistant (MTA) in 2018 at the University Hospital Mannheim and then worked for 4 years in a Pathology Department.
Since 2022 I am working in Ada’s Group being responsible for the cell culture and giving trainings to new students and staff members. Alongside my daily responsibilities and trainings, I am also working on the nanoscale adhesion and migration research project performing transient cellular transfections and time-lapse microscopy imaging.
Sabine Grünewald
Technical Assistant
I started working with Rolf Sprengel at MPImF in 1997 at the Department for Molecular Neurobiology of Prof. P.H. Seeburg. After working a lot with various technics of molecular cloning, the responsibility moved more and more to the cell culture.
In 2015 I moved to the group of Ada Cavalcanti in the Department of Cellular Biophysics of Prof J. Spatz. Since then I’m supporting the maintenance of the Cellcultures and general organization and back up of the group.
I’m also member of the works council, where I managed the Job-Ticket and Language courses of the Institute.
Master Students
Tobias Hub
B.Sc. Molecular Biotechnology
Working in the research area of collective dynamics and mechanics together with Grégoire Lemahieu.
Interns & HiWi students
Jens Timmer
List Title.
Helen Eiberger
B.Sc. Molecular Biotechnlogy
Charlotte Doll
B.Sc. Physics
Leon Luca Homagk
B.Sc. Molecular Biotechnology
Nikolas Motzkus
B.Sc. Molecular Biotechnology
Lena Messner
B.Sc. Molecular Biotechnology